L  I  E)  RAR.Y 

OF   THE 

UN  IVERSITY 

Of    ILLINOIS 


"RG^Y 


lUI.'iniS  HISTflRICAl  mitt 


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Of  Trt£ 


i'^  •^    ^ 


/- 


Qr^.^  i  ^^^^ 


To  the  Pearly  Settlers  of  the  Rock  River  Valley,  and 

to  my  lovinir  and  devoted  Children,  this  work  is  res})ect- 

fuUy  an<l  kindly  dedicated. 

The  a  it  h  ok. 


3 


PREFACE. 


The  following  pages  were  written  for  the  perusal  of  the 
author's  family,  with  no  expectation  of  giving  them  to  the 
puhlic  in  book  form.  Hut  for  some  time  |)ast  I  have  felt 
it  my  duty  to  i)Ut  it  into  book  form,  hoping  that  it  may 
prove  gratifying  to  my  old  friends  to  call  to  mind  some  of 
the  scenes  of  trial,  privation  and  inconvenience  we  suffered; 
but  above  all,  the  hopes,  the  pleasures  and  the  comforts  we 
enj<jyed  in  our  new  homes.  Many  of  these  venerable  heads 
are  covered  with  the  dust  of  the  valley,  and  the  few  of  us 
who  are  left  can  truly  say,  ''Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in 
the  Lord,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors;  and  their  works 
do  follow  them."* 

In  these  pages  many  recollections  of  fi-ontier  life  in 
different  localities  are  sketched.  The  climate,  the  soil, 
j-<jciety,  schools  and  churches,  in  many  places  in  Kentucky, 
Illinois  and  Nebraska  are  described,  and  I  hope  it  will 
ntt-rest  all  persons  wdio  are  looking  for  facts  instead  of 
liction.  It  is  written  in  old  style,  without  any  attempt  at 
literary  merit.  Its  details  may  be  regarded  as  the  truth  in 
every  sense,  and  hoping  that  it  may  be  useful  in  leading 
8nme  precious  souls  Xo  the  Truth  as  it  is  in  the  Redeemer 
of  the  world  and  the  Fountain  that  is  open  to  all,  I  offer  it 
to  your  kind  i>erusal,   trusting  you  will   not  criticise  too 

closelv  its  manv  defects. 

E.  A.  KOE. 


690(565 


CONTENTS. 


Illustrations. — Portraits    of    Dr.   John   Eoe   and   Mrs. 

E.  A.  KoE. 

Page. 

Preface 5 

Chapter  I. — My  Childhood 7 

Chap.  II. — The  Garden  and  the  Gardener 13 

Chap.  III. — Earliest    Kecollections    of    Methodism 

and  its  Influence  on  Me 20 

Chap.  IY. — Peligious  Resolutions   and    How   they 

Were  Prosecuted 34 

Chap.  Y. — Pecollections  of  Early  Married  Life 49 

Chap.  YI. — Doctor's  Adventure  on  the  Farm 108 

Chap.  YII. — Pemoval  to  Pock  Piver — Progress  of 

Methodism 112 

Chap.  YIII. — Recollectionsof  Methodism  in  Chicago  148 

Chap.  IX. — Recollections  of  Payne's  Point 154 

Chap.  X. — Recollections  of  Rockford  and  our  new 

Home  on  the  Prairie 159 

Chap.  XL — Yisit  to  ]N"ebraska 171 

Death  of  Dr.  John  Roe 244 

Funeral  Sermon 267 

Dr.  John  Roe 285 

I]irthdav  Testimony 289 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  FRONTIER  LIFE, 


CIIAITKU    I. 


MY      ("  II  1  LDlIOOl). 


Thk  tii\-t  that  1  recollect  of  self  I  was  a  rude,  playful 
girl,  fair  complexion,  black  hair,  with  rosy  cheeks  and 
hazel  eyes;  so  much  for  personal  appearance.  Perha])s  the 
reader  may  rememher  I  was  the  daughter  of  Col.  Mathew 
an<l  Beaulah  Lyon.  I  was  horn  on  the  11th  of  June,  1805, 
in  the  beautiful  village  of  E<ldyville,  situated  on  the 
Cumberland  Kiver,  Livingston  County  (afterward  Colwell), 
but  now  known  as  Lyon  C-ounty,  Kentucky.  In  this  jdace 
I  awoke  to  life,  which  at  that  time  seemed  to  have  a 
thousaml  charms  for  me;  I  was  loved  and  caressnl  liy 
every<»ne,  and  almost  idoli/AMl  by  my  parents. 

Nature  in  her  rich  ]»rofussion  spread  romance  and 
ln-auty  all  around  the  village.  There  were  the  bohl  nioun- 
tain-likc  bluffs  which  ap])roache<l  the  village.  an<l  yet  stood 
back  in  awe,  as  if  the  divine  hand  that  made  them  said,  "Thus 
far  thou  may'st  come,  but  no  further."  They  slope<l  off 
with  modest  beauty  and  formed  a  lovi-ly  valley,  or  bottom, 
even  to  tiie  water's  edge;  thi>  in  it>  natural  >Tat('.  fnrnie<l 
a  (•anel>rake  growing   fn»m    one    inch    to  six  feet  in  height. 


8  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

When  I  can  first  recollect  (through  the "  perseverance  and 
enterprise  of  a  Yankee  Colony  that  settled  there  in  1T99) 
it  was  dotted  all  over  Avith  neat  dwellings  and  good 
gardens,  producing  every  variety  of  vegetables  and  flowers 
that  the  mind  could  well  conceive,  yielding  not  only 
plenty  but  an  abundance  to  the  diligent  liand.  While 
these  bluffs  were  covered  with  a  variety  of  timber,  wild 
fi-uit  and  flowers.  The  timber  consisted  of  elm,  ash, 
hickory,  walnut  and  sugar-maple,  from  which  the  early 
settlers  made  a  great  quantity  of  sugar  and  molasses, — a 
great  luxury  I  assure  you,  at  that  time.  The  fruit  consisted 
of  grapes,  blackberries,  crab-apples,  paupaus,  dewberries, 
and  many  others.  There  was  a  great  variety  of  wild  flowers, 
fi'om  the  gorgeous  white  and  purple  flower  of  the  dog- 
wood and  the  pink  flush  of  the  red- bud  tree,  to  the  tiny 
violet,  arrayed  in  its  modest  robe  of  blue  and  Avhite.  (How 
beautiful  is  this  tiny  flower  in  its  simplicity  and  humility, 
sending  forth  its  rich  perfume  through  the  air,  while 
growing  so  humbly  at  our  fe6t.)  Here  I  was  allowed  to 
ramble  at  pleasure  through  these  scenes  of  romance  and 
beauty,  constantly  attended  by  my  brother,  who  was  two 
years  older  than  myself,  and  sometimes  a  number  of  boys 
and  girls  would  join  us  in  our  rambles  over  the  bluffs  and 
through  the  lovely  valley.  We  have  often  spent  half  a  day 
at  a  time  in  one  of  these  rambles. 

One  day,  when  returning  from  a  stroll,  our  baskets  laden 
with  flowers,  our  party  concluded  to  stop  and  make  a  play- 
house in  the  back  yard  under  some  large  shade  trees.  At 
this  proposition  all  hearts  swelled  with  delight.  We  had 
all  had  a  nice  ramble,  and  we  would  all  have  a  good  time 
building  a  play-house.  Tlie  boys  hurried  about,  hunting 
and  collecting  pieces  of  boards  w^hich  had  been  used  on  for- 
mer occasions.  They  then  put  up  the  house  as  best  they 
could,  suiting  the  taste  of  us  girls  very  much.     They  would 


KKONTIKK     I. IKK.  9 

call  out  occasi(Hially,  "Well,  irirl>.  1i<>nv  will  this  doT' 
**IIuwwill  that  hioki  It  is  thti  hest  we  can  do  iiuw;  hut 
Avheii  we  grow  to  he  men  I  think  we  will  heat  it,  as  we 
shall  be  provide<l  hetter  with  tools  ami  liniiher;  hesides,  we 
shall  have  nails  and  all  those  sort  of  thin*;  whieh  will  enable 
lis  to  build  in  the  rii^ht  way."  The  girls  would  res]>ond, 
*'You  have  done  well;  the  house  is  sj)lendid;  you  are 
Urst-rate  In >use-l »ui Iders." 

AVe  girls  were  busy  with  our  little  hands  })icking  up  all 
the  bits  of  broken  ware  in  the  shape  of  old  tlower-pots,  tea 
pots,  etc.,  to  put  our  flowers  in,  so  that  we  could  decorate 
our  shelves.  We  soou  got  our  house  in  order.  Then  came 
an  important  thing  for  me  to  do.  It  was  for  me  to  go  and 
get  mother's  consent  to  take  my  nice  tea-ware  whieh  my 
father  had  presented  to  me  only  a  few  days  before.  As 
soon  as  this  was  mentioned  my  heart  throbbed  with  delight 
and  I  exclaimed,  '*I'll  go,  girls;  ma  will  let  me  have  them, 
and  some  cake,  fruit  and  cheese,  and  then  we  can  have  tea 
just  like  old  folks  I ''  I  bounded  away  to  the  house,  and 
found  my  mother  in  the  sitting  room.  She  cast  her  ex- 
pressive blue  eyes  U|)on  me,  and  with  her  usual  kindness, 
asked,  "What  are  you  in  sueh  haste  for ^  I  hope  nothing 
unjjleasant  has  occurred." 

"Oh,  no;  dear  mother,"  I  re})lied,  *•  1  have  come  to  ask 
your  leave  to  use  my  nice  tea  dishes  that  pa  gave  me  the 
other  day;  and  then,  ma,  1  want  some  cake,  some  cheese 
and  sauce,  so  that  we  can  have  tea  in  our  play-house,  the 
boys  have  built  us  one;  do  come  and  see  it  ma!  "  "Oh,  no. 
dear,"  my  mother  replied,  ''the  boys  might  run  away  if 
they  shoidd  see  me  coming;  here  are  your  things,  go,  now, 
and  enjoy  yourselves,  be  careful  of  your  tea  ware,  and 
bring  them  Inick  safe."  With  this  counsel  from  my 
mother,  I  started  awav  j^reatlv  delighted.  The  bovs  and 
<rirls  met   me,   savinir,   "Oh,   we   knew   V(Mir   ma  wouhl   let 


10  KECOLLECnONS    OF 

Tou  have  them,  she  is  so  kind."  The  table  was  made  of  a 
board  on  fom^  forks;  a  cloth  was  spread,  and  the  dishes 
neatly  arranged,  and  our  cake,  cheese  and  friiit  were  placed 
on  the  largest  plates,  the  tea-kettle  was  boiled,  our  tea 
drawn,  and  then  we  were  all  ready  to  be  seated.  As  we 
were  sitting  down,  one  of  the  party  hit  one  of  the  forks 
which  supported  the  table,  and  down  went  our  dishes,  tea, 
cake  and  cheese,  all  at  one  sweep.  Some  of  us  caught  the 
ends  of  the  cloth  preventing  the  dishes  from  falling  to  the 
ground,  so  that  the  dishes  were  not  broken,  and  of  course 
no  great  damage  was  done- 
It  l^ing  too  late  by  this  time  f«:»r  us  to  go  through  the 
ceremony  again,  we  dispersed  with  the  hope  c»f  having  a 
tea  out  of  the  nice  teaware  some  other  time.  As  my 
brother  and  I  approached  my  mother  with  our  dishes  all  in 
a  muss,  she  said,  "Ah,  my  dear  children,  I  feared  you 
would  not  enjoy  all  that  you  anticipated.  This  life  is  full 
of  disappointments,  and  you  must  try  and  prepare  your- 
selves for  them;  I  hope  and  pray  that  you  may  have 
patience,  resignation  and  grace  to  l>ear  them." 

Time  with  its  swift  wings  has  lx)rne  me  along,  but  has 
not  erased  from  my  mind  many  scenes,  some  pleasant,  and 
some  of  a  more  serious  nature.  One  that  I  will  relate  now 
is  of  the  earthquakes  that  were  felt  so  severely  in  Kentucky 
in  the  years  of  1S12-13.  We  had  read  and  heard  of  earth- 
quakes, but  had  little  idea  that  we  should  know  by  experi- 
ence what  it  meant  to  feel  the  earth  quake  and  totter  and 
roll  under  our  feet,  but  it  was  so. 

One  day,  in  the  beginning  of  the  winter  of  1812,  after 
spending  the  day  in  play,  I  retired  for  the  night,  first  say- 
ing the  prayer  my  mother  had  taught  me — 

"  Now  I  lay  me  do\ni  to  sleep, 
I  pray  Thee.  LorcL  my  soul  to  keep; 
And  if  I  die  before  I  wake. 
I  pray  Thee^  Lord,  my  soul  to  take,** 


FRONTIER    I.IFK.  11 

Tlit'ii  tiK'kiiii^  me  snuixly  in  iiiv  little  tiMni(ll(-ln'<l,  mv  kind 
kind  motlier,  who  was  ever  watc'hin«;  over  me  like  ji  «^uar- 
iliaii  angel,  bent  over  me  and  naid,  ''  Now,  clear,  go  to 
tsleep.''  After  commenting  on  tlie  uncertainty  of  life  and 
tlie  certainty  of  deatli,  she  turned  away  and  left  me  to  re- 
flect u])on  what  she  liad  said  to  me.  While  reflecting,  I 
fell  asleej),  (Mnuforting  myself  that  God  would  hear  my 
]>rayers.  I  realized  nothing  more  until  about  midnight, 
when  I  was  anmsed  with  very  strange  feelings.  I  was  roll- 
ing to  and  fro  in  my  bed,  not  knowing  the  cause  of  the 
motion,  .lust  then  my  mother  came  to  my  bed  and  caught 
me  u}>  in  her  arms,  saying,  "  My  dear  Lizzie,  this  is  an 
eartlnjnake,  and  I  fear  the  earth  will  open  and  take  us  in! 
This  slinws  the  power  of  llim  who  made  the  heavens  and 
the  earth.  It  is  the  God  I  teach  you  to  })ray  to."  Just 
then  my  father  approached  us  and  addressed  my  mother 
witli:  "'Madam  Lyon,' I  think  we  had  better  go  out  of 
the  house.  It  reels  and  shakes  so  I  fear  it  will  tumble 
d<»wn.  A  number  of  those  in  the  chamber  have  been 
tlirowii  from  their  beds  and  have  made  their  way  into  the 
vard."  When  we  trot  out  we  found  all  the  familv  there, 
both  black  and  white,  young  and  old,  in  their  night  clothes. 
Some  were  holding  on  to  the  trees;  others  were  hanging  to 
them.  Those  who  could  not  keep  their  feet  were  rolling 
to  an<l  fro  on  the  jrnjund  like  lo^rs.  All  was  consternation. 
Some  of  them  could  not  understand  the  cause  of  this  com- 
motion. :iim1  thought  that  tlie  Judgment  Day  had  come. 
Kiehard,  the  black  j>reacher,  remarked,  ''If  dis  yere  be  de 
Judgment  Day,  I  shall  soon  see  my  bressed  Lord  an' 
Mas'rl"  Others  exclaimed,  '•  (  )li.  Lord!  b«'  nuTciful  to 
me,  a  sinner."  My  father  reasoned  with  us  all  on  the  sub- 
jeet  and  told  us  what  he  thought  was  the  cause.  "  But  I 
know  not  what  will  be  the  result,"  sai<l  he.  -  I  havt-  n-ad 
of  the  earth  opening,  and   jktsoiis  and   even   houses   falling 


12  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

in.  Tliat  may  liappen  to  us  now,  but  I  hope  not.''  Even 
my  father,  with  all  his  philosophy  and  firmness,  was 
fritrht-ened.  By  degrees  the  quaking  and  shaking  of  the 
earth  l)ecame  less  severe,  and  suon  the  crashing  sound  died 
awav  into  a  rumhlin";  like  distant  thunder.  And,  oh  I  how 
thankful  we  all  were  to  tind  all  alive,  without  the  least 
injury. 

But  this  was  not  the  happy  result  everywhere.  At 
a  number  of  places  on  the  Mississippi  the  earth  had 
opened,  and  many  persons  were  engulfed.  Friends  of 
these  unfortunate  persons  hastened  to  rescue  them  by 
diorcfinor  them  out,  but  after  succeedincr  to  2^et  them  out 
they  were  found  to  be  mangled  and  dead,  so  that  they 
were  only  taken  from  the  earth  to  be  replaced  again. 
Some  were  never  found,  to  receive  burial;  houses  were 
shaken  to  atoms,  and  some  were  thrown  into  the  river. 
The  houses  in  our  village  were  not  seriously  injured, 
chimneys  were  tllro^^^l  do^vn,  only,  and  other  occurences  of 
similar  nature  happened  here  and  there.  But  this  put 
people  in  such  a  state  of  alarm  that  all  were  reading, 
,  talking  and  reasoning  on  the  subject  of  Earthquakes.  It 
was  thouofht  that  the  sink-holes  in  the  river  near  us 
2)revented  us  from  feeling  a  heavier  shock  in  Colwell 
County,  as  there  could  be  seen  something  like  smoke  rising 
fi'ome  these  holes  after  the  earthquake  took  place,  which 
was  never  seen  l)efore.  Slight  trembling  of  the  earth  was 
felt  once  in  two  or  three  weeks  for  a  year  afterward,  but 
never  so  severelv  as  at  first. 


fi;«».niii;k-    i.im  .  13 


CllAPTEll  11. 


TIIK    (JAKDKN,    AM)    TIU:    CiAliDKNEIi. 

Thk  gjirdeiier  was,  at  the  time  I  write  of,  a  man  alxnit 
forty  years  of  age,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  in  tlie 
beginning  of  the  Kevohitionary  War  liad  fought  under  tlie 
British  tlag.  lie  was  on  l)oard  a  man-of-war,  they  landed 
on  an  island  for  the  purpose  of  getting  some  wood.  lie 
with  others  was  sent  out,  and,  for  some  reason,  sto})})ed 
longer  than  the  rest,  and  the  man-of-war  sailed  without 
him.  The  reason  why  he  was  left,  we  leave  the  reader  to 
conjecture.  He  never  could  endure  the  idea  of  being 
called  a  deserter.  He  remained  on  the  island  for  a  number 
of  days,  an<l  was  picked  uj)  by  an  American  vessel;  after- 
terwards  enlisted  and  fought  under  the  banner  of  libert}-, 
and  fought  like  a  good  soldier  for  the  rights  of  an  Ameri- 
can citizen,  and  through  the  mercy  <»f  (Tod  was  ])ermitted 
to  enjoy  tlmsi*  ]>i-ivili'gt's  fm-  nianv  years,  I'oi-  reasons 
unknown  lie  never  married.  After  the  war  had  closed  he 
was  ]>rovi(kMitially  directcjl  to  my  father  for  emyl<yment. 
He  was  a  naiU'r  l>y  ti-ade;  all  the  nails  used  in  AiihtIcji  at 
that  time  were  made  of  wrought  in^n.  They  were  manu- 
fjictured    thus,    first    the    iron    was    made   int^)    a    rod    bv 


14  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

putting  it  throiigli  a  slitting  machine  made  for  this  pur- 
pose. My  father  having  one  of  these  machines  in  effective 
operation,  he  coukl  give  the  old  "  General  Whitehouse " 
(a  fictitious  name  which  the  workmen  on  the  place  called 
him  on  account  of  his  superior  work,  and  the  name  was 
borne  by  the  old  gentleman  to  his  death)  steady  employ- 
ment. He,  "  Uncle  General,"  as  the  children  called  him, 
became  an  inmate  of  my  father's  family  for  many  years  in 
Vermont,  and  when  my  father  emigrated  to  Kentucky  he 
accompanied  him,  and  made  one  of  that  colony  comj^rising 
the  citizens  of  the  Yankee  village.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  supplied  the  community  with  the  best  of  wrought  nails 
with  peculiar  nice  heads  and  sharp  points;  but  the  old 
gentleman  became  satisfied  that  the  new  mode  of  making 
nails  was  about  to  suj^ersede  his  business,  and  soon  gave  it 
up.  He  now  directed  his  attention  to  another  kind  of 
employment.  He  had  been  trained  in  his  youth  to  garden- 
ing, and  thinking  he  might  still  be  useful  in  this  line  of 
business,  my  father  employed  him  to  improve  and  to 
cultivate  his  already  large  and  beautiful  garden.  To 
facilitate  this,  and  to  gratify  the  old  General,  my  father 
had  a  neat  little  home  built  at  the  foot  of  the  garden; 
furnished  it  with  many  comforts  and  conveniences  for  him. 
He  was  supplied  with  money,  and  a  conveyance  to 
travel  over  the  country  and  purchase  flowers,  finiit  and 
shrubbery  wherever  he  could  And  them,  and  whatever  kinds 
of  plants  that  would  be  useful  and  ornamental ;  and  he  was 
a  workman  to  be  prized,  I  assure  you.  Everything  was 
done  in  order  and  in  due  season;  he  was  in  the  garden 
early  and  late ;  there  was  not  a  weed  to  be  seen,  and  every 
bed  was  made  of  earth  molded  as  tine  and  soft  as  earth 
could  be  made;  all  seeds  were  gathered  in  due  time,  dried 
with  care,  put  into  a  neat  bag,  marked,  and  placed  in  a 
dry  place  ready  for  use  in  the  spring. 


KKn.MIKK     MFK.  15 

*' rncle  (leneral  "  was  verv  kind  to  us  childivii,  and  when 
ill  a  j)leasant  liiniior  liked  the  appellation  which  the  ehihlreii 
liad  given  him.  Jhit  if,  mi  the  contrary,  he  was  not  in  a 
pleasant  mood,  he  would  cry  out,  '*()hl  you  r«)«>;ues.  I  will 
give  you  'Uncle  (xeneral, '  if  you  don't  keej)  your  dis- 
tance." And  we  knew  it  was  time  f(»r  us  to  scamper  off. 
Jiut,  oh  I  what  hours  of  pleasure  1  have  spent,  ramhling 
throui^h  that  <z:arden  with  mv  brother,  and  sometimes  with 
-other  })laymates,  and  *•  Uncle  CTeneral  "  at  our  side.  We 
never  dared  to  enter  the  garden  with(jut  his  permission. 
He  w<uild  lead  ns  to  the  rose  alley  and  let  us  pluck  roses 
from  this  and  that  Inish  until  we  had  got  one  of  each 
kind;  then  we  would  proceed  to  the  pink  alley,  thence  to 
gather  the  violets,  chamomile,  sweet  lavender,  flowering 
moss,  and  so  on,  till  we  would  have  a  basket  full  of  flowers 
for  ourselves  and  friends.  Then  we  would  go  to  one  of  the 
arbors,  covered  with  jessamine,  woodbine  and  grape  vines, 
as  suited  our  taste  or  convenience.  These  arbors  were  scat- 
tered all  through  the  garden,  and  after  we  had  arranged 
our  bofpiets,  rested  and  regaled  ourselves  with  the  sweet 
odor  of  the  fl(jwers,  '*  Uncle  General ''  would  allow  us  to 
race  after  the  butterfly  or  humming-bird,  and  wdiile  we 
enjoyed  ourselves  in  the  chase,  we  would  always  And  him 
near  us. 

Often,  while  leaning  with  much  dignity  over  his  hoe,  he 
would  teach  us  some  useful  lesson  from  objects  around  us. 
On  one  occasion  he  called  our  attention  thus:  "  Dear  chil- 
dren; see  yonder,  how  graceful  that  humming-bird  poises 
above  that  flower,  and  how  skillfully  it  extracts  the  sweets 
from  its  very  heart,  with  peculiar,  tiny  bill.  There,  it  has 
left  that  flower  to  go  to  another.  Now,  you  cannot  see  any 
difference  in  the  a})pearance  of  the  flower  it  has  extracted 
the  sweets  from,  the  work,  of  its  tiny  bill  has  been  effected 
so  skillfully;  but  by  to-morrow,  perliaps,  the  flower  will 


16  KEC()LLE(;TI<)^'S    (.)F 

sliow  siitns  of  decay,  and  dav  after  dav  it  will  be  more  vis- 
ible.  until  it  finally  withers  and  dies.  But,  see  liere,  chil- 
dren; here  is  a  well-furnied  capsule,  tilled  with  numerous 
seeds.  They  will  ripen  as  the  flower  decays,  and  when  they 
fall  to  the  ground  will  vegetate  and  l)ring  forth  another 
beautiful  flower  in  the  other's  place  to  lill  the  air  with  its 
rich  perfume.  Xow,  dear  children,  here  is  a  good  lesson 
to  be  learned  from  this,  if  we  would  but  profit  by  it. 
Time,  with  her  sharp  sickle,  like  the  humming-bird,  is  strik- 
ing all  these  frail  systems  of  ours,  and  daily  we  feel  more 
or  less  its  power,  and  ere  we  are  aware  of  it  the  fatal  stroke 
is  given,  and  we,  like  the  flower,  will  droop  and  die.  But 
still  there  is  hope  in  the  death  of  the  righteous.  While  the 
body  dies  and  is  committed  to  the  earth,  there  to  lie  and 
mold  until  God  who  formed  all  things  shall  reanimate  this 
sleeping  dust  and  recall  those  immortal  spirits  that  they 
may  be  reunited  in  the  majesty  and  glory  of  the  Tlesurrec- 
tion.  Oh  I  solemn  thought,  we  shall  all  be  there  to  share 
in  the  judgment  of  the  just  and  the  unjust.-' 

Tlius  he  often  labored  to  make  good  impressions  on  our 
Youncr  minds  in  rec^ard  to  the  shortness  of  life  and  the  cer- 
tainty  of  death.  In  this  way  our  interviews  would  close 
with  a  promise  if  we  would  be  good  children  we  should 
enjoy  these  privileges  again  soon.  Then  he  would  see  us 
to  the  gate,  then  he  would  close  it,  and  no  one  dared  open 
it  without  his  permission.  Away  we  ran  with  our  load  of 
flowers,  feeling  that  our  hearts  were  profitably  affected  by 
this  interview.  Uncle  General  in  a  few  years  became  very 
feeble  with  rheumatism,  but  as  long  as  possible  he  would 
be  in  the  garden.  When  he  was  unable  to  do  his  work  a 
a  man  was  employed  to  take  his  place,  but  often  the 
''  General"  would  grow  impatient  with  William's  \\ork  and 
would  say,  '*  Let  me  come  and  do  that,  I  can  do  it  better." 
And  time  and  again  I  have  seen  him  work  when  he  was 


KKONTIKK     I.IKK.  17 

scarcely  able  to  stand,  and  liave  |>lca<l  wltli  him  to  let  Wil- 
liam do  the  work,  "  he  can  d»»  it  vcrv  well;*'  sinnetimes  I 
^ould  ])revail  u}>on  him,  and  other  times  I  w«>nld  not.  For 
a  nnniber  of  years  before  tlie  deatli  of  my  parents,  he 
became  so  intirm  that  lie  could  not  join  tiie  family  at  the 
table,  so  I  genei-ally  had  the  pleasure  «»f  carrying  to  him  his 
food,  in  liis  own  little  house.  Here  he  was  very  comforta- 
ble and  happy;  his  furniture  consisted  (»f  a  table,  a  large 
trunk  in  which  he  kept  his  tools,  another  smaller  one  for  his 
clothes;  my  mother  always  saw  that  his  linen  was  done 
up  in  order  for  him,  he  was  remarkably  neat  in  everything; 
his  neat  cot  bed  was  always  in  perfect  order,  which  he  pre- 
ferred to  make  up  himself;  the  old  fasliioned  sliovel  and 
tongs  stood  in  the  corner  on  the  newly  painted  brick  heartli, 
in  a  very  precise  manner,  a  large  arm  chair  well  cushioned, 
and  a  foot  stool,  a  small  shelf  placed  over  a  low^  window 
with  a  few  volumes  of  old  fashioned  books  and  the  Bible, 
summed  up  his  library;  all  these  comprised  his  household 
comforts.  Many  hours  have  I  spent  in  that  little  house, 
reading  to  him  the  word  of  life,  as  he  called  the  contents  of 
the  ])recious  Bible.  Again  T  would  read  from  some  other 
book,  an  interesting  story.  Sometimes  he  would  tell  war 
stories  to  myself,  brother,  and  our  associates,  who  would  go 
there  often  to  hear  them. 

In  this  way  things  moved  on  for  a  number  of  years 
without  much  change,  except  that  he  grew  so  feeble,  that 
lie  ceased  to  labor  entirely,  he  in  the  meantime  lost  his 
hearing,  so  that  if  one  wished  to  convey  anything  to  him, 
they  were  obliged  to  write  on  a  slate  which  he  kept  hanging 
on  the  back  of  his  chair.  In  this  manner  I  have  conversed 
with  him,  and  he  would  invariably  remark,  ''Is  it  lujssflde 
that  this  is  the  little  rosy  cheeked  girl  that  used  t<>  [>rance 
about  the  garden,  and  cull  the  flowers  and  j)ick  the  fruit 
with  such  irlee^'     Onedav,  at   the  close  of  such   an   inter- 


18  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

view,  I  replied,  "Yes;  Uncle  General,  it  is  the  same,  with 
but  the  changes  that  time  has  wrought;  how  well  do  I 
remember  the  many  useful  lessons  you  taught  me  and  mv 
brother,  and  to-day  I  deeply  realize  the  lessons  you  taught 
us  from  the  pink  and  humming-bird,  and  Time  has  come 
already,  with  his  sharp  sickle,  and  thrust  his  last  blow  on 
my  dearly  beloyed  brother,  and  must  I  say  it?  he  is  no 
more.'-  "Alas  I  alas;"  he  said,  "is  it  so?  Can  it  be  possible  that 
your  brother  who  was  the  very  picture  of  health ;  the  pride 
of  the  village,  dead?  he  that  was  to  be  the  stay  and  com- 
fort of  his  parents'  declining  years,  ah ;  yes  he  was  like  that 
flower  just  unfolding  its  fragrance  to  the  earth.  And  he 
must  be  called  fi-om  earth; — just  twenty-one  years  old — 
biding  fair  for  so  useful  a  life;  can  it  be  possible!  Why 
could  not  the  enemy  have  chosen  me  for  its  victim,  and 
spared  him.  And  the  tears  ran  down  his  time  worn  cheeks 
until  every  furrow  was  drenched.  In  silence  we  wept 
for  some  time ;  he  at  length  broke  the  silence  by  saying, 
^'  Well  my  dear  child.  Time,  like  an  ever-rolling  stream,  bears 
all  her  sons  away.  It  will  soon  be  my  time,  I'm  ready  and 
willing,  I  await  my  change,  and  hope,  through  the  atone- 
ment made  by  my  blessed  Lord,  to  share  in  the  resurrection 
of  the  just."  iSTot  many  months  passed  before  a  procession 
passed  the  house  bearing  my  mother's  corpse;  he 
requested  the  colored  man  who  attended  him  to  bring  him 
his  chair,  as  he  could  not  walk,  that  he  might  gaze  upon 
my  mother's  face  once  more.  His  request  was  granted; 
the  procession  halted,  that  he  might  be  raised  up  to  the 
bier.  When  he  saw  my  mother's  face,  so  still  and  cold, 
what  an  expression  of  feeling  there  was  upon  his  features, 
— I  cannot  describe  the  scene.  At  last  he  lifted  his  eyes 
all  bathed  in  tears  toward  heaven,  and  murmured,  "  Dear 
Lord,  am  I  to  out-live  all  this  family?  I  desire  to  be  called 
to  rest,  but  patiently  will  I  await  Thy  call,  my  Master,  to 


FRONTIKK     1,1  FK.  19 

come  up  higher."  Oiilv  ;i  fi'w  weeks  elapsed,  iiikI  tinu- 
iiiiide  tlif  last  stroke  on  his  frail  body.  The  iMessiMi«^er 
called  him  to  rest,  and  we  hope  he  entered  into  that   rest 

that  he  st>  mnch  desired. 


(>  *?!«•  'ii^  ^A^  'S^i^^i^  *'Ai'  ^/V:"7^'/i 

i^  •i'l'J*  'i'^'^  '7ii'  ^/,        .'{•'^i^^A'? 'i'i^  'S'j 

J^l^  ^!>^^»^^;  '^  ^\!;^  ,}t^  ^f^  ^1 

^^'/!.  v>'4»  »^^^  ^^^''^  v^'<^''^  vV^^^'.^^' 


20  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 


CHAPTEE   III 


EARLIEST    RECOLLECTIONS    OF    METHODISM    AND    ITS    INFLUENCE 

ON    ME. 

Having  given  the  reader  some  ideas  of  my  earlier 
associates,  I  ^-ill  now  tell  yon  something  of  the  religious 
influences  which  sun-ounded  me,  and  the  influences 
which  were  calculated  to  lead  me  into  vain  amusements 
and  pleasures  of  a  fashionable  life.  My  father 
was  a  man  who  the  world  called,  at  that  age,  a  kind- 
hearted,  ofenerons,  noble  minded  deist.  He  believed  in  an 
all-wise  Creator  and  preserver  of  the  universe,  was  a 
worldly  minded,  Ijusiness  man,  all  absorbed  in  promoting 
the  interest  and  improvement  of  the  new  country — Ken- 
tucky, where  he  had  lately  settled  a  large  colony.  He 
thought  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  had  a  tendency  to 
improve  the  moral  condition  of  society,  and  therefore 
contributed  liberally  to  the  support  of  the  ministry, — 
treating  them  all  with  kind  respect,  no  matter  to  what 
denomination  they  belonged.  Ministers  were  always 
invited  to  his  home,  and  treated  hospitably,  and  seldom 
went  away  without  a  nice  present;  but  when  they  ventured 
to  bring  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel  to  bear  upon  his 


FlinNTIKK     r.IFK.  '21 

miiul  lie  would  s:iv,  *'  Mv  (U';ir  sir.  1  lia\t*  no  tlinv  to  think 
i»f  this  matter  now;  hut  vou  <rn  (Mi  your  way,  the  cause 
you  work  ft»r  is  a  i^ood  one,  and  I  will  hel]>  you  all  1  can/' 
He  always  attended  ser\iees  (»n  the  Sahhath,  and  desired 
his  work-hands  to  j'o;  at  some  seasons  of  the  vear  his 
workmen  and  tlieir  families  would  make  (piite  a  large 
audience.  Yet  he  knew  nothing  of  the  saving  influence  of 
the  gos}>el  until  in  his  last  illness.  Although  he  died 
away  from  home,  from  what  we  learned  of  the  state  oi  his 
mind,  we  have  hopes  in  his  death. 

My  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Cioverner  Thomas  Chitten- 
<lon,  the  first  «j:overnor  of  the  State  of  Vermont.  lie  was 
re-elected  until  he  served  in  that  office  fifteen  years.  lie 
was  a  very  ])ious  man,  and  raised  his  children  very  strictly, 
^ly  mother  Mas  therefore  the  subject  of  early  religious 
imj>ressions,  hut  as  she  entered  upon  lights  and  shades  of 
life  she  lost  in  a  measure  these  good  impressions,  and 
hecame  a  gay  fashionable  woman,  and  enjoyed  life  to  its 
fullest  extent  if  ever  any  woman  did.  She  was  first  in 
society;  first  in  dress,  and,  being  a  handsome  woman,  was 
very  much  admired,  both  foi*  her  style  of  dress  and  neat- 
ness of  housekeeping.  Her  intelligence,  together  with  an 
amialde  disposition,  won  for  her  the  love  and  confidence  of 
^]]  who  made  her  ac<piaintance. 

Thus  she  cflided  alonj^  life's  stream,  till  she  was  nearlv 
forty-seven  years  of  age.  At  that  late  period  the  Lord  in 
mercy  powerfully  awakened  her,  she  saw  her  danger, — 
sought  at  once,  and  found  the  Lord  in  the  pardon  of  her 
sins.  Uniting  witli  the  Methodist  E.  P.  church,  she  ever 
afterwards  lived  a  constant,  humble  christian,  serving  the 
Lord  in  S]>irit  and  in  truth,  always  ready  for  any  good 
work  or  words.  I  l)eing  her  youngest  child  (then  nine  years 
old)  she  seemed  particularly  interested  in  me,  yet  slie 
earnestly  prayed  for  those  with  whom  she  had  associated  in 


22  RErOLLECTIOXS    OF 

the  ball-room,  at  the  card-tahle,  and  in  all  the  other 
amusements  of  fashionable  life.  Oh,  how  often  did  she 
exhort  them  to  lav  aside  snch  vain  pleasures,  and  to  seek 
real  f)leasure  in  the  religion  of  Jesus,  Thev  would  say^ 
''Dear  mother,  you  used  to  enjoy  such  amusements."  "Ah,, 
my  dear  children,'-  she  would  say,  "  I  feel  this  reproof,  and 
I'm  yery  sorry  I  ever  set  you  the  example,  for  those  same 
amusements  always  left  a  sting — there  was  an  aching  spot 
in  my  heart  they  could  not  touch,  and  now  I  see  the  folly 
of  it ;  therefore,  mj  dear  children,  be  persuaded  to  abandon 
them,  and  place  your  affections  on  a  more  worthy  object; 
don't  waste  the  prime  of  your  life  in  these  yain  enjoyments 
as  I  haye  done,  but  seek  the  Lord — why  will  you  delay? 
wall  you  be  lost,  dear  children  ? "  Often  has  she  thus  plead 
with  them,  but  with  little  success,  as  they  still  continued 
in  the  same  course. 

As  I  grew  older,  they  tried  to  lead  me  and  my  youngest 
brother  in  the  habit  of  doincr  the  same  by  sayincr,  "There  is 
no  use  of  children  trying  to  be  religious;  wait  until  you 
get  as  old  as  mother,  then  it  will  do  to  be  sober,  leave  off 
dressing  fashionably,  going  to  balls,  being  gay,  and  enjoy- 
ing life.  To  be  any  body,  you  must  act  like  the  world* 
dress  like  the  world,  and  make  a  good  appearance.  If  you 
wish  to  be  respected,  this  you  must  do,  so  come,  you  must 
go  with  us  this  time  anyhow."  These  brothers  and  sisters 
were  older  than  us,  my  parents  having  lost  two  children 
between  us  and  the  older  ones,  leaving  a  difference  of 
twelve  years.  We,  being  so  much  younger,  were  taught  to 
love  and  obey  them,  while  they  in  return  loved  and 
caressed  us;  thus  it  was  a  difficult  matter  for  us  to  think 
they  did  wrong;  they  exerted  a  great  influence  over  us 
either  for  good  or  evil. 

This  younger  brother  and  I  were  always  together  in 
all  amusements;  he  led  me  to  school,  to  church,  and  when 


KKONTIKK     \AVK.  23 

we  liad  ;i  raniMe  in  the  woods  nr  a  race  in  tlie  garden,  he 
was  always  hy  my  side.  Oh,  huw  it  ])ained  my  yunng 
heart  when  I  learned  he  mnst  leave  me  and  go  away  to 
college.  He  had  made  such  rapid  progreBB  in  his  studies 
at  the  school  that  he  was  ready  for  college, — the  first  and 
only  one,  at  that  time,  in  the  state.  It  was  situated  near 
Kusselville;  I  think  I  remember  the  Principal's  name,  Mr. 
Harry.  Yes,  he  must  leave,  and  we  were  to  ])e  separated 
for  the  tirst  time.  This  was  the  first  heartfelt  sorrow  I 
remember  having  felt.  How  well  I  recollect  how  noble 
and  manly  he  looked  dressed  in  his  traveling  suit  for  the 
journey.  He  leaned  over  me,  his  face  covered  with  tears, 
and  kissed  me  saving,  ''  Dear  sister,  don't  weep  so,  brotlier 
is  only  going  to  school,  to  gain  knowledge  that  he  might 
be  useful,"  and  then  imprinting  an<^ther  kiss  upon  my 
cheek,  he  was  gone. 

My  mother,  knowing  the  influence  wliich  my  older 
brothers  and  sisters  had  over  me,  strove  to  counteract  it  by 
her  pious  examples  and  religious  instructions.  She  was 
always  at  my  bedside  to  teach  me  how  to  pray  and 
commit  myself  to  the  care  of  Him  who  doeth  all  things 
well.  I  had  such  confidence  in  her  ]>iety  that  if  there 
were  a  severe  storm  and  I  was  near  her  J  tin  Might  I  was 
safe.  I  believed  the  L(jrd  would  take  care  of  her  and 
hoped  he  would  me,  for  her  sake.  At  the  age  of  five  years 
she  dedicated  me  to  the  Lord  through  the  ordinance  of 
baptism  administered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  P.  Cartwright. 
How  solemn  1  felt  when  he  laid  his  hand  u])on  my  head 
and  said,  "(rod  bless  the  chihl,"  and  I  believe  the  Holy 
Spirit  sealed  those  imprcss'ons  on  my  heart  at  that  time 
which  have  never  been  erased.  l>rother  Cartwright  was 
then  a  young  mnn  in  tlie  field,  j^reacliing  with  zeal  for  the 
salvation  of  })reciou8  souls,  and  whatever  he  did  w^as  sealed 
witli    the    spirit    of   Ood.      I    saw    him    baptise    scores    of 


24:  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

cliildren  durini;  the  threat  revival  in  Kentuckv,  and  tliere 
wa>  a  lioly  nnction  of  the  spirit  of  God  resting  on  the 
minister,  the  subjects  and  the  congi'egation.  Oh,  how  I 
wish  our  ministers  of  the  present  day  would  use  that 
ordinance  in  the  conofreo^ation  now  as  thev  did  then.  I  believe 
it  would  be  a  blessing  to  the  children,  the  parents,  the 
church,  and  to  the  world  o-enerallv.  Brother  CartAvi-iorht's 
preaching,  with  the  kind  instructions  he  gave  me  while 
\i siting  at  my  father's,  made  lasting  impressions  upon  my 
mind.  He  received  my  mother  into  the  church.  Father 
often  remarked  to  lier,  "  You  must  take  care  of  that  Boy 
Preacher,  for  he  is  too  smart  and  too  good  to  want  for 
anything  we  have."  She  generally  attended  to  that.  His 
preaching  was  the  means  of  bringing  many  souls  into  the 
ark  of  safety.  AVhile  at  Eddyville  he  formed  a  class,  and 
put  lh-<)t]ier  Icider  in  as  leader,  who  was  a  holy,  humble 
christian;  there  was  father  and  mother  AA^iite,  who 
lived  at  Eddygrove.  who  came  down  and  joined  us.  and 
oh  I  what  power  attended  those  meetings.  I  have  seen 
Mother  AVhite  Ivins:  on  the  floor,  crvino^,  -^^Glorvl  calory  I  *' 
for  huurs.  Others  happy  in  the  Lord,  some  crying  for 
mercy,  and  new-born  souls  rejoicing  in  a  sin  pardoning 
God.  At  those  meetings  I  felt  the  spirit  striving  \\^thin 
me,  yet  so  young  I  scarcely  comprehended  it. 

This  class  prospered  for  many  years,  and  great  good 
was  done.  But  eventually  Brother  Eider  moved  away, 
while  Father  and  Mother  AVliite  died  (and  no  doubt  went 
to  heaven\  with  the  others  movino-  awav  and  dvins:.  left 
the  wicked  who  waxed  strong;  the  class  was  broken  up, 
and  there  was  in.)  more  preaching  fur  years.  My  mother 
joined  a  class  in  what  was  called  father  Heed's  neighbor- 
hood, some  live  miles  from  our  village.  Tliere  I  used  to 
go  with  my  mother  to  meeting,  and  the  same  power  was 
manifested  there,  as  there  alwavs  is  when  Christians  live 


IKo.Nlll.K       I. 


liumMy  ami  devoted  tn  (ind.  Tlie  sj»irit  of  (?<»<!  hiruve 
witliin  mv  heart  iiiuUt  tlie  |>ri':icliiii«^  >in<l  in  tlie  clas.ss- 
rooni  witli  her,  ami  tlu-rr  1  \\(»ul<l  promise  (if  the  Lord 
woidd  help  me)  t«>  ti'v  an<l  he  a  Christian;  hut  when  1 
Would  return  hinne  1  was  thrown  into  such  a  dilferent 
atm(>s}>liere  and  the  intluenee  of  those  friends  who  were 
all  absorbed  in  the  world,  fashion  and  amusements,  l)eing 
So  young  and  fond  (.>f  eomj)any,  that  ere  I  was  aware  of  it 
"would  find  my  good  resolutions  shaken.  1  would  he 
persuaded  to  go  to  some  elegant  hall,  oi*  join  some  giddy 
amusement  which  would  dr(>wn  all  my  good  imj)ressions; 
and  if  I  ever  hesitated,  they  would  say,  "I  do  believe 
mother  will  make  a  Methodist  of  you  if  you  don't  (juit 
going  out  to  old  Mr.  Heed's;  we  will  not  let  you  go  out 
there  any  more."  I  could  not  bear  to  see  dear  mother  go 
so  far  alone  to  meeting,  and  g<»  she  would  whether  any  one 
went  with  lier  or  not,  and  1  would  go  with  her,  whether 
they  liked  it  or  not.  I  was  confident  she  was  right. 
(Jften  liave  I  heard  her  ])raying  in  lier  closet,  beseeching 
God,  saying,  "Dear  Lord,  may  I  not  luive  one  slieaf  to 
rejoice  over."  Then  I  felt  that  she  hail  reference  to  me, — 
it  W(»uld  be  borne  home  to  my  heart.  I  would  weep  as  I 
would  reason  with  myself, — how  can  I  be  a  christian  under 
these  circumstances — such  op})onents  to  contend  with;  yet 
I  feel  that  my  mother  is  right,  1  know  if  she  should  die 
she  would  go  to  hea\en;  but  should  my  other  friends  die 
they  wo\dd  die  without  ho])e,  and  so  would  I.  too,  for  I 
have  no  h<»}>e  beyon<l  the  grave.  And  again  I  would 
res(»lve  t<»  be  a  (•hri>tian,  and  w<»uld  try  to  pray.  My 
mother  watched  me  closely  when  she  saw  1  was  laboring 
under  these  good  resolutions;  she  would  exhort  me  to  trust 
in  the  Saviour,  and  try  to  explain  to  mi*  the  j»ower  of 
saving  faith,  telling  me  it  was  by  grace  thn»ugh  faith  we 
are  saved.      Shr  would  i^ivt*  me  good   book>  to  rea<l.  such  lus 


26  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

the  life  of  "'  Hester  Ann  Kogers,"  "  Baxter's  Call  to  the 
Unconverted,"  also  "Fletcher's  A23peal."  These  good 
books  strengthened  my  good  impressions,  and  at  times  I 
tliought  I  was  altogether  persuaded  to  be  a  christian. 

I  recollect  once  when  I  was  laboring  nnder  these  convic- 
tions, there  was  a  grand  ball  to  be  given.  On  the 
announcement  of  it  I  resolved  in  my  own  mind  that  I 
would  not  go,  and  almost  promised  my  mother  I  would  not 
go.  But  when  the  invitations  came,  my  brothers  and 
sisters  prevailed  upon  me  to  go,  by  saying  that  as  my 
young  brother  was  at  home  on  a  visit  and  was  going  that  I 
must  go,  too ;  and  holding  out  other  inducements  that  they 
would  arrange  my  dress,  and  it  should  be  the  most  elegant 
which  would  be  worn;  if  I  would  but  consent  to  go,  I 
should  have  no  trouble  with  it;  that  my  brother  would  be 
very  proud  of  me, — this  they  thought  would  touch  the 
right  cord,  knowing  as  they  did  that  I  dearly  loved  my 
brother,  and  would  do  anything  to  please  him.  Reasoning 
that  there  was  no  harm  in  dancing,  and  that  some  religious 
people  danced, — no  ministers  preached  against  it  but  the 
Methodist,  "And  I  wish,"  they  said,  "they  had  never  came 
here,  then  we  could  take  some  comfort  in  our  balls.  So 
come  now,  promise  to  go,  there  is  no  harm  in  it,  will  you?" 
At  last  I  told  them  if  mother  would  give  her  consent  I 
would  p-o.  They  were  inconsistent  enouf^h  to  ^o  and  ask 
her.  She  told  them  she  was  greatly  surprised  that  they 
should  ask  her  consent  for  she  had  neve?'  given  her  consent 
for  me  to  go,  and  felt  much  less  like  giving  it  now  than 
ever,  and  if  I  went  it  would  be  much  against  her  will;  that 
I  was  old  enough  now  to  act  upon  my  own  responsibility. 
My  brother  said  he  had  never  been  to  balls  much,  and  as 
he  was  home  on  a  visit,  thought  he  would  go.  They  all 
•said  I  must  go. 

No  one,  but  He  who  knows  the  thoughts  of  every  hearty 


KKoN'lIKK      I.IKK.  'J  4 

knew  how  I  felt.  I  dearlv  loved  niv  Itotlicrs  and  sifiterK;  I 
loved  my  iiiotlier,  and  I  did  not  wish  to  «^rieve  lier,  ami 
dreaded  the  guilt  I  would  incur  hy  gointr,  jind  yet  I  had  not 
the  moral  courage  to  resist  their  entreaties,  and  so  conchideil 
to  go,  but  thought  in  my  own  mind  I  would  not  danct*, 
and  thus  please  them  all,  and  in  this  manner  I  coidd  get 
along  without  incurring  much  guilt.  Hut  when  mother 
learned  that  I  had  consented  to  go,  she  looked  sad  and 
seemed  depressed  in  spirits.  I  wished  a  thousand  times  I 
ha<l  not  ccjnsented  to  go,  hut  the  tem})ter  said,  ''It  is  too 
late  now  to  re])ent,  you  have  promised  to  go,  and  if  you  do 
not,  you  will  incur  a  great  deal  of  displeasure.  You  need 
not  dance,  but  go,  and  behave  with  so  much  dignity  that  it 
will  do  you  no  harm."  Thus  the  tempter  reasone<l  with 
my  ])oor  young  heart.  I  did  not  realize  that  he  couM  so 
lead  me  when  he  (nice  got  me  on  his  own  ground.  The 
evening  came;  I  was  arrayed  in  style;  a  number  of  y»)ung 
persons  were  there  to  accompany  us.  As  my  brother 
approached  me  I  saw  an  expression  of  ])ride  on  his  counte- 
nance as  he  looked  upon  the  sister  he  loved  so  much. 
Just  then  mother  entered  the  room  with  a  look  of  grief 
resting  upon  her  face.  I  shall  never  forget  that  look,  when 
she  said,  "  My  dear  children,  if  you  will  go  to  this  ball  I 
have  one  re<|uest  to  make,  which  I  hope  you  will  grant,  aiul 
that  is,  that  you  will  return  by  ten  o'clock."  "Oh  yes,  yes 
mother,''  replied  my  brother,  "  we  will.''  I  said  "yes,"  too, 
as  frankly  as  he  did,  and  little  thought  but  what  1  should 
do  so  without  a  doubt. 

Brother  had  never  paid  so  much  attention  to  dancing  as 
I  luul,  and  consec^nently  did  not  care  so  much  for  its  gi<l<ly 
maze.  I  had  ])racticed  it  a  great  deal  for  one  of  my  age, 
and  was  extremely  f<tnd  of  it,  and  wondered  that  I  <lare<l 
to  venture  under  the  sound  of  the  violin,  as  its  music  had 
ench    an    enchanting    jH.wei-    over    nie.       Ibit     I    wish    the 


28  rp:collkctions  of 

reader  to  understand  tliat  I  was  venturing  in  mv  own 
strengtli ;  I  knew  notliing  of  the  power  of  faith — in  prayer 
— strength  derived  from  a  sweet  confiding  trust  in  a  sin- 
pardoning  God. 

I  liad  no  sooner  entered  the  dancing;  hall,  under  the 
sound  uf  the  violin,  than  my  heart  bounded  to  the  music, 
the  same  as  I  had  so  often  danced  after  before,  and  there 
joined  the  same  circle  of  loved  ones  that  I  associated  with 
in  this  be^vitching  amusement.  The  good  resohitions  my 
young  heart  had  made  were  overpowered,  but  I  did  muster 
courage  enough  to  refuse  a  number  of  warm  solicitations  to 
lead  in  the  dance,  but  at  last  I  yielded  and  w^as  led  onto  the 
floor  at  the  head  of  a  cotillion.  If  I  should  attempt  to 
describe  my  feelings  my  pen  would  fail  me ;  but  let  me  say  ' 
it  was  then  I  felt  I  was  a  sinner;  yes,  I  do  believe  the  spirit 
of  God  at  that  moment  reproached  me  with  my  sin  and 
made  me  see  more  clearly  the  sureness  of  the  judgment  to 
come.  I  felt  that  I  was  sinning  against  God  and  my 
better  judgment;  I  knew  I  was  doing  what  would  grieve 
one  of  the  best  of  mothers;  oh  I  how  plain  I  could  see  her 
face  with  that  expression  of  grief  on  her  mild  feature> 
before  me  as  I  glided  over  the  floor.  The  wise  man  ha> 
said,  ''The  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard."  I  felt  at  times 
like  crying  out,  "God  be  merciful  unto  me  a  sinner." 
But  I  overcame  those  feelings,  and  so  by  degrees  they 
wore  off,  and  I  became  more  cheerful  the  remaining  part 
of  the  evening.  All  seemed  to  pass  pleasantly  with  those 
around  me,  yet  I  suffered  from  the  inward  workinjrs  of  a 
guilty  conscience. 

At  ten  o'clock  my  dear  brother  came  to  me  saving, 
*' Sister,  it  is  time  we  were  starting  for  home,  mother  will 
be  looking  for  us;  don't  you  rememl>er  what  she  requested 
of  usf'  " Yes,  yes,"  said  I,  "and  if  it  is  ten  oVdock  I'll 
go.''     A  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  overhearing  our 


KKn.NTIKK     MKK.  '_'!♦ 

Conversation  reniarktHl,  *•(  )1  J.  n»»,  'tis  not  ten  yet,  ami  we 
h(»}>e  you  will  not  tro  at  this  early  hour,  will  you  f"  I 
replied  tliat  I  "must  certainly  »ir,»  at  ten."      At  that  they 

urrounde<l  us  and  plead  with  us  not  to  <r,,,  savinj;  as  thev 
each  consulted  their  watches,  **'Tis  only  nine  oVh>ck.'' 
They  K>oke<l  at  my  brother  for  an  answer,  hut  he  witlulrew, 
Siiyin*,'  to  nio,  -Sister.  I  shall  i^o  soon,  and  you  had  l>etter 
i^o  with  me."  I  said,  *'  I  will  in  half  an  hour."  Then  they 
.<aid,  '*  Vou  must  stay  till  twelve,  sure."  At  that,  hrother 
left  me,  and  I  saw  no  more  of  him  that  ni«;ht.  When  he 
start e<l  I  luid  no  idea  he  would  «:o  home  without  me;  so 
when   it  was  admitted   to  be  ten  o'clock  I  he«r»r«^Ml  my  older 

>rother  to  go  and  find  him.  He  sought  him,  i>ut 
he  had  gone  liome  feeling  very  unha])}>y  l>ecause  I  did 
not  g«>  with  him.  This  made  me  feel  still  worse,  an<l  the 
rest  of  my  company  would  not  go  till  two  o'chx'k.  1 
strove  to  throw  tliis  trouble  asi<le  and  remain,  but  ]>eeominir 
unha})py,  I  went  to  one  of  my  brothers  an<l  told  him 
that  home  I  must  and  would  go,  I  could  not  stay  there  any 
longer.  At  that  we  starteil,  seven  or  eight  following  us. 
Those  who  had  persuadeil  me  to  remain  said,  "  ^'ou  have 
broken  up  the  ball  at  last ;  I  knew  you  W(.uld  if  you  and 
your  comj>any  left,  as  the  rest  would  folhtw." 

When  we  arrived  home,  to  our  surprise,  we  found  the 
doors  l(X'ke<l.  I  assure  you,  dear  reader,  I  felt  awful,  an<i 
yet  felt  it  servei^l  me  right,  but  did  \u*t  see  how  I  could 
endure  this  mortification.  I  thought  my  heart  would 
break.  I  knew  Gu<l  and  my  mother  wei*e  angry  with  me 
pa>t  forgiveness,  or  the  doors  would  not  liave  Ikxmi  l(K'ke<l. 
The  com]>any  were  ab<»ut  starting  for  a  liotel,  when  Mr.  S. 
(a  y(»ung  man  who  boarded  with  usi  saiil,  "  If  you  will 
permit  me  to  take  off  a  slat  so  tlmt  I  can  u\ten  the  shutter, 
I  can  then  raise  the  windc^w  and  go  in  and  unbolt  tlie  diK»r 
f<»r  the  rest  of  vou.''      "Verv  well,"  haid   I,   "that    will   do,** 


30  RECOLEECTIOXS    OF 

although  I  thouglit  it  k)oked  bad  to  be  forcing  ourselves 
into   the  house  in  tliis  way,   vet  we  had  to  get  in,  and 
concluded  this  the  only  way  to  effect  an  entrance.     We  had 
knocked  at  every  door  in  the  house  but  received  no  response 
whatever.     He  succeeded  in  opening  the  door  for  us.     After 
entering  we  partook  of  the  refreshments  on  the  sideboard, 
after  which  each  one  sought  their  o^tl  apartment.     I  went 
to  my  room,    but    not    to    sleep.       I    went    to    mother's 
room,  but  on  looking  around  the  apartment  for  her  could 
see  no  sign  of  her.     The  bed  had  not  been  touched  to  all 
appearances,  and  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  mother  was 
away  from  home  attending  the  sick,  as  she  was  often  called. 
Having  fully  settled  this  in  my  mind,  and  feeling  better, 
as  I  hoped  she  would  never  know  how  late  it  was  when  I 
returned  from  the  ball,  I  proceeded  at  once  to  the  clothes 
room  to  put  my  bonnet  away.     'Not  taking  a  light  with  me, 
I  stumbled  on — my  mother — who  was  on  her  knees  j^raying. 
I  was  sure  it  was  her  as  soon  as  I  touched  her.     On  hearing 
her  voice  in  prayer  I  recovered  from  my  shock,  and  dragged 
my  trembling  limbs  back  to  my  room,   and  I  thought  I 
should  never  get  to  it.      As  soon  as  I  had  reached  it  I 
threw  myself  upon  the  bed,  and  in  my  agony  cried  out, 
"  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me,"  then  gave  way  to  a  flood  of 
tears,   and  those  tears   relieved   me   of   my  intense   pain. 
Then  I  tried  to  pray,  feeling  there  was  no  mercy  for  me 
sinning  as  I  had  against  God,  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit, 
trifling  with  my  soul,  heeding  not  the  good  resolutions  I 
had    made,    and    grieving   my  poor    mother, — oh!    these 
thoughts,  how  terrible  they  were.     You  may  imagine  that 
it  was  little  rest  I  had  the  remainder  of  that  night;  but 
after  I  had  thought  the  scenes  all  over,  I  firmly  resolved 
never  to  be  seen  in  a  ball-room  again;  that  I  would  go  to 
mother  in  the  morning  and  acknowledge  my  faults,  and 
ask  her  forgiveness,  and  tell  her  of  all  my  sorrow.     This 


FKoN'riKR     i.im;.  .,i 

I  would  do.  and  1  ivsolved  that,  let  <»tlit'rs  do  what  they 
"vvuulil,  I  should  st'fk  tlif  Lord  in  the  pardon  of  inv  siiiK, 
for  I  felt  I  would  he  lost  and  und<»n«'  if  I  did  not  seek  and 
ji^ain  ])ardon  and  •;raee  to  carrv  out  these  resolutions.  Thih 
was  the  first  time  1  trusted  in  the  Lord's  stren«;th,  whieli  I 
had  hefore  resolved  in  niv  own  strength  out  of  inv  )»erfect 
weakness. 

After  I  had  made  these  res()luti(»ns  in  the  ^rarr  ••[  (hkI, 
I  had  faith  given  me  to  believe  that  (iod  w<udd  lielp  me. 
But  how  to  approach  my  mother  with  my  confession  waa 
the  next  tliinti^  to  trouble  me,  t(»  ])lan  my  duty  was  esisy, 
but  to  do  it  was  the  ditiieulty.  I  had  disrei^arded  her 
feelings  in  her  religious  views,  civility,  and  social  life;  had 
entered  the  liouse  without  her  leave  (as  1  supjK»se»l),  and 
how  could  1  ap})roach  her?  (My  mother  intended  to  let  us 
in  herself,  but  not  hearing  us, supposed alittle colored  girl  had 
opened  the  door  instead).  However,  I  went  to  my  mother 
in  the  morning,  and  approached  her  with,  "  Mother,  dearest 
mother,  can  you  forgive  me?  I  feel  that  I  have  done 
wrong,  and  am  very,  very  sorry,  and  I  have  seriously 
resolved  never  to  go  to  another  ball.''  I  thought  1  should 
sink  at  the  mild,  sad  look  she  gave  me,  f(»r  1  had  exjiected 
sternness,  and  felt  that  I  deserved  a  sevei-e  relnike,  but 
instead  of  all  this  she  clasped  me  in  her  arms,  while  warm 
tears  of  forgiveness  fell  ujjon  my  face,  and,  imprinting  a 
kiss  upon  my  cheek,  she  said,  *'  Yes,  my  child,  I  freely 
forgive  you,  and  I  hope  the  Lord  will  forgive  you,  too,  I 
know  you  have  sinned  against  His  grace,  and  agiiinst  your 
own  religious  conviclions.  ^'ow  1  hope  and  l>niy  that 
you  will  never  d<j  so  again;  I  know  you  will  not  if  y<»u 
follow  the  dictates  of  the  sj)irit,  then  you  will  l)e  le<l  to  the 
fountain  which  washes  away  all  sin.  Again  she  kissetl  nie 
saying,  '' My  dear  chihl,  give  your  heart  entirely  to  (iod, 
and  then   he  will   help  you  to  overcome  all  temptuti«»ns." 


:^r2  KECOLLIX'TIOXS    OF 

Christians,  nothing  but  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in 
my  heart  could  have  given  such  joy  and  peace.  It  created 
a  strong  hope  that  the  Lord  would  forgive  nie,  I  felt  very 
thankful  to  mother  for  her  forgiveness  and  sympathy  for 
me,  and  more  thankful  to  the  Lord  who  had  given  me  a 
praying  mother.  Mothers,  pray  for  your  erring  children 
I  entreat,  and  pray  in  faith,  as  a  prayer  in  faith  availeth 
much.  My  mother's  prayer  was  answered  when  she  saw 
that  I  was  earnestly  and  devotedly  seeking  the  ways  of 
the  Lord. 

How  carefully  she  watched  over  me:  often  she  \\'()uld 
come  and  take  a  vain  novel  from  my  hand  which  had  l)een 
o-iven  me  to  read,  cjiven  me  bv  some  of  mv  friends,  savino- 
there  was  no  harm  in  them,  that  T  could  read  them  ^Wthout 
affectino;  niA'  relierion  anv,  and  would  be  more  interestincr 
to  me  than  ''Baxter's  Call  to  the  L'nconverted,''  and 
''  Fletcher's  Appeal,"  which  were  intended  for  old  people 
to  read,  and  that  those  ron^ances  were  calculated  to  improve 
and  cultivate  my  mind.  Oh  I  how  AVTong,  and  it  grieves 
me  to  see  how  much  novel  reading  is  engaging  the  minds 
of  the  young  j^eople  of  the  present  time,  not  improving 
the  mind  in  godliness,  l)ut  stamping  upon  the  mind 
inhdelity.  May  the  Lord  have  mercy  and  save  the  world, 
and  especially  the  church  from  these  influences,  when  the 
world  is  so  full  of  good  and  profitable  reading  matter. 
You  may  go  in  the  parlor  or  library  of  any  fashional)le 
house,  and  there  you  will  see  the  center  table  loaded  with 
these  trifling,  fi-ivolous  books,  graced  with  a  few  volumes 
of  religious  works  merely  for  good  taste  and  looks  of  the 
tiling,  yet  the  poisoning  seed  of  infidelity  was  at  the 
foundation.  For  this  reason  parents  should  be  very  careful 
what  kind  of  books  they  choose  for  their  children  to  read. 
Children,  I  fear  many  of  you  will  have  cause  to  say, 
*'AVere  it  not  for  the  reading  I  liad  at  home  1  should  have 


FIMNTIKK     LIFE. 


:\:\ 


been  a  Christian,  instead  of  an  nnl>elievi'r,  witli  niv  lu-.-irt 
as  liard  as  a  rock,  and  so  indifferent  about  the  nulvation  of 
mv  never  dvins:  soul." 


l/tHHHHHHHrdcLdcl^M 


KP'P'rriPFPHHHr'Hfl 


34  KECULLKCTIONS     OF 


CHAPTER  lY. 


RELIGIOUS  RESOLUTIOXS  AND  HOW  THEY  WERE  PROSECUTED. 

From  the  time  my  mother  forgave  me  for  going  to  the 
ball,  I  resolved,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  be  a  Christian,  and 
these  resolutions  were  made  in  the  streno^th  of  crrace.  I' 
felt  that  I  was  a  great  sinner,  but  believed  there  was  a 
Saviour,  and  hoped  he  would  reveal  himself  to  me  in 
pardoning  my  sins.  I  discarded  all  novel  reading,  and  read 
the  Bible,  with  other  good  books.  I  found  great  comfort 
in  reading  "Baxter's  Call  to  the  Unconverted,"  and 
"Fletcher's  Appeal;"  every  word  seemed  to  suit  my  case. 
I  wish  those  good  books  could  be  found  now,  on  every 
center-table  or  in  every  book-case.  In  every  Christian  family, 
at  least,  there  should  be  found  those  books,  containing  the 
pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  by  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesu> 
Christ,  portrayed  in  every  line  of  holy  men's  writings. 
How  it  glows  in  every  sentence.  I  prayed  much  in  secret ; 
I  waited  on  the  Lord  by  the  means  of  grace,  whenever  I 
had  the  opportunity.  There  were  no  regular  services  held  in 
our  village  for  years  after  the  class  dispersed  that  Brother 
Cartwright  had  organized.  He  traveled  through  the  upper 
part  of  the  State,  except  in  the  summer,  when  Brother  Wil- 


KKoN'llKli     1.1  FK.  MT) 

cnx  {i\  Methodist  t'ldtT,  lialf-lu'otluT  t(>  nrotht-r  Cartwri^lit, 
\\']u)  resided  within  fifteen  mih's  «>f  us, i  came  om-e  n  month 
and  j)reache<l  us  a  sermon.  He  was  a  \erv  devote<l  Chris- 
tian, and  liis  sermons  were  a  t^^reat  l>k'ssini;  to  me;  he  wan 
^ratitied  to  learn  tliat  I  was  an  earnest  seeker  of  ivli^ion, 
and  always  made  it  a  ]>oint  to  stoj)  at  my  father's  h<»uso 
when  he  visited  our  villaii^e.  He  kindly  labored  with  me, 
teaching  me  the  doctrine  of  faith,  its  great  power,  simpli- 
city and  importance,  and  I  was  no  longer  Jishamed  to  tell  to 
tlie  world  now,  that  I  was  a  penitent  sinner,  and  seeking  the 
grace  of  God.  But  I  was  afraid  to  make  a  j)rofession  of 
religion,  while  I  was  not  yet  sure  of  j)ossessing  its  saving 
power.  Mother  and  I  still  attended  ''Father  Reed's"  class- 
meetini^s,  and  thev  were  a  i^reat  hlessin*'  to  me;  I  never 
came  awav  without  feelinu:  stren^'thened  bv  going  to  the 
house  of  God's  people,  but  had  not  yet  faith  to  claim  the 
blessing  of  justification,  and  say  that  the  Lord  has  saved 
ine,  or  saves  me  now;  yet  I  was  in  hopes  that  lie  wouhl 
save  me,  and  this  hope  kept  me  fn»m  despairing. 

AVhile  thus  laboring  in  this  state  of  feeling  I  strcjve  to 
give  up  all  the  amusements  of  the  world,  and  discard  dress- 
ing finely, — which  I  had  loved  deiirly — and  had  lx>wed  at 
the  shrine  of  fashion  as  much  as  any  one  possibly  could. 
My  pride  and  vanity  had  been  gratified  in  every  respect.  My 
brothers  were  engaged  in  a  dry  goods  esUiblishment,  and  never 
failed  when  j>urchasing  their  stock  to  select  for  me  the 
newest  and  most -stylish  articles  of  dress.  Our  family 
dressed  in  the  richest  of  apparel,  and  m<»\ed  in  the  most 
fashionable  circles,  and  when  my  brothers  saw  me  di*essing 
so  ])lainly  they  became  very  uneasy,  and  remarkiMl,  "Those 
MetlKKlists  will  certainly  drive  that  child  crazy.  If  she  is 
60 determined  to  be  a  Christian,  whv  not  be  Km!  to  a  church 


36  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

where  they  allow  dressing  in  style,  and  look  and  act  some- 
thing like  the  world;  but  no,  it  seems  nothing  will  suit 
but  those  terrible  Methodists.  Expect  they  will  soon 
liave  her  shouting."  One  tried  to  pi-^vent  me  from 
attending  the  meetings  by  saying  that,  ''  if  he  ever  heard 
me  shouting,  he  would  diso^sTi  me;  and  if  you  go  any 
more  I  will  give  you  a  horse-whipping.  Don't  let  me 
catch  you  among  them  again."  They  had  seen  me  at 
Father  Eeed's  prayer-meeting.  So  my  fi-iends  went  on 
for  some  time  in  this  manner.  They  would  watch  mother 
and  me  so  closely  that  we  would  hire  the  servants  to  slip 
out  the  horses  that  we  rode,  and  then  we  would  go  by  some 
by-road  unbeknown  to  them.  They  tried  to  dissuade  me 
"by  coaxing  till  they  had  nearly  ruined  my  soul,  and  now 
thev  were  trvino:  what  violent  threats  could  do.     But  I  was 

«/  i  CI 

firm,  and  notwithstandincr  all  their  coaxincr,  hirinor  and 
threatening,  they  failed  to  accomplish  their  purpose.  Xow 
they  held  a  council,  and  concluded  they  would  send  for  a 
very  fashionable  cousin  of  ours,  who  lived  in  Tennessee,  t<;) 
come  and  spend  a  few  months  with  us.  She  had  always 
had  a  great  influence  over  me ;  thinking  she  could  no  doubt 
turn  me  from  Methodism,  she  was  sent  for  at  once,  and 
responded  promptly.  I  was  delighted  to  see  her,  for  I 
loved  her  dearly.  She  was  a  beautiful,  intelligent,  amiable 
girl,  and  always  loved  me  tenderly;  when  she  came  she 
embraced  me  very  warmly,  telling  me  how  happy  she  was 
to  see  me.  But  in  the  meantime  she  remarked,  with  a 
look  of  disapprobation  overshadowing  her  face,  "  I  have 
been  feeling  very  uneasy  about  your  turning  Methodist. 
!Now  cousin,"  she  commenced,  ''  those  people  are  turning 
the  world  up  side  do\\ni,  they  are  wild,  and  are  driving 
folks   crazy   wherever   they   go,    and   that   is   everywhere. 


FKoNTIKU     I.IFK.  I'm 

Tliev  dure  <^()  any  |)luee;  tliev  cuiiiie  iiit«j  ChirkBville,  om-  nf 
the  most  fasliionable  places  in  tlie  country,  and  c*)nnnenct'<i 
preachiiii;  their  wikl  ^lethodist  doctrines,  and  the  jk'oj.Ic 
are  all  goinij^  cnizy  under  their  intluence.  Their  c«uivfrts 
tear  off  their  rihhons,  rutttes,  and  jewelry,  and  shout  and 
pray  so  that  it  is  enou^^h  to  set  one  cnizy  to  hear  them. 
I  ^o  to  hear  them  })reach  sometimes,  for  I  think  their 
ministers  ai*e  very  intelli«^ent  and  gentlemanly  in  their 
deportment,  and  explain  the  scriptures  very  plainly,  but 
when  they  l)eii:in  to  slujut  and  pray  I  retire  as  soon  as 
p(.)ssil)le.  I  don't  wish  to  be  influenced  by  them  to  throw 
off  my  jewelry,  fashionable  dressin*;,  and  iri\e  up  e\ery 
fashional>le  amusement.  I  don't  think  it  necessary  to  deny 
oneself  of  everything  to  become  a  Christian,  and  they  wont 
allow  even  fashionable  novels  to  be  read;  they  say  they 
arc  full  of  infidelity  which  is  calculated  to  lead  the  min<l 
from  (rod  and  the  interests  of  the  soul,  that  they  induce 
the  young  to  become  vain  and  trifling  in  thought,  and 
wanting  in  manners.  They  advise  us  to  read  the  BibK'  and 
Some  other  good  religious  books,  which  w«mld  help  to 
make  us  Christians.  I  don't  see  why  the  Methodists  need 
to  be  so  riirid  on  these  little  matters,  when  other  churches 
are  not."  "Cousin,"  I  replied,  '*  I  will  tell  you  my 
experience  and  my  views  on  the  subject.  I  l>elieve  the 
si>irt  of  the  Lord  and  language  of  inspiration  teach  me 
that  it  is  wrouir  to  dress  extravagantlv,  for  the  blesse«| 
AVord  says,  "Conf<»rm  not  to  the  world,  but  Ik.*  ye  tnins- 
formed  bv  the  renewinj;  of  vour  mind,  that  ve  may  j»rove 
what  is  gtKxl  and  acce])table  in  the  sight  of  (i(k1,"  and  I 
think  if  the  money  used  for  extravagant  dressing  was 
distributed  among  tlie  neetiy,  it  would  greatly  ai<l  in  fiiMJing 
and  clothini:  the  hunirrv  and  naked,  an<l  woidd  it  not  do  us 


38  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

more  good  than  tu  spend  it  in  fashionable  di-essing  which 
only  pleases  our  vanity  and  selUsh  pride.  I  think  every 
one  can  dress  plainly  and  neatly  without  spending  so  much 
time,  as  it  takes  the  greater  part  of  our  time  to  prepare  and 
put  on  this  stylish  apparel.  I  find  I  have  more  time  tu 
read  the  Bible  and  other  o:ood  books  since  I  bejran  to  dress 
more  plainly.  Xow,  as  to  the  preaching  of  these 
Methodist  ministers.  They  do  certainly  preach  the  pure 
doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  it  is  brought  home  to  every 
heart  by  the  spirit  of  God,  and  I  do  sincerely  believe  if  I 
follow  the  dictates  of  the  blessed  Spirit,  I  shall  some  day 
be  a  Christian  in  deed  and  in  truth." 

"  Oh,  well,  dear  cousin,"  she  replied,  "  I  see  you  are  well 
established  in  this  Methodist  belief  of  yours,  and  that  you 
have  decided  to  be  one;  so  we  will  drop  the  subject  for  the 
present." 

This  cousin  remained  with  us  some  time,  laboring  to  draw 
my  mind  from  these  impressions,  still  admitting  that  it  was 
right  to  be  a  Christian,  but  it  w  as  not  necessary  to  be  so 
strict  about  dress,  class-meetings,  love-feasts  and  prayer- 
meetings,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  she  partially  gained  an  in- 
fluence over  my  mind  on  the  subject  of  dress.  This  pleased 
my  friends;  my  brother  told  my  cousin  to  spare  no  pains 
nor  means  in  accomplishing  their  object;  that  if  there  was 
any  new  style  of  jewelry  or  clothing  to  be  had,  I  was  to 
have  it,  and  she  succeeded  well,  too,  in  influencing  me  to 
wear  them  again.  She  said  if  I  did  not  feel  a  wicked  pride 
in  wearing  them,  that  there  was  no  harm  or  sin  in  doing  so. 
I  tried  to  think  so,  and  often  thought  when  I  saw  my  friends 
of  different  religious  denominations,  dressed  in  such  fash- 
ionable attire,  why  could  not  I  ?  but  my  conscience  was  not 
at  ease.    My  dear  mother  watched  me  closely  during  these 


FUONTIKi:     1.11  K.  39 

jn-oceediii«^s.  I  did  not  neglect  secret  pniyer  eiitinl 
reading  tlie  iJihk',  l>ut  did  not  take  snch  delight  in  it  iws  1 
had  dune  l)efore;  1  was  aware  that  I  had  nearly  hack-hlitl- 
den.  My  gay  conipaniont^  heganto  remark,  (»ne  to  another, 
"I  told  you  she  would  come  hack  again  tt»  our  gay  circle; 
we  did  miss  her  dancing  so  much.". 

There  was  a  great  cam})-meeting  to  he  held  l)y  the  Metlu>- 
distsand  Cumberland  Preshyterians,  about  twelve  miles  from 
our  place.  They  had  held  these  revival  cam])-meetings  to- 
gether, at  this  beautiful  place,  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
hundreds  of  souls  had  been  converted  on  that  sticnnl  spot. 
I  have  seen,  as  a  general  thing,  five  thousand  j>ersons  in 
attendance,  anil  have  witnessed  more  than  two  hundreil  j>er- 
sons  prostrate,  crying  for  mercy,  with  as  many  more  giving 
]>raise  to  (-rod  for  the  iKirdoiiing  of  their  sins. 

The  time  for  this  revival  was  close  at  hand;  my  mother 
always  attended,  if  her  health  w<uild  permit,  and  took  me  with 
lier.  Father  would  not  allow  her  to  remain  on  the  grounds 
through  the  night,  and  procured  us  a  boarding  place  with  a 
widow  lady  by  the  name  of  Walker,  (Virginian  by  birth, )  who 
lived  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  camp  ground;  she 
generally  went  to  the  grounds  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  mt>rii- 
ing  and  remained  till  nine  in  the  evening,  taking  a  nice 
<linner,  in  a  basket,  which  was  served  under  the  lH.*auti- 
ful  forest  trees.  It  was  understood  that  niotlier  and 
I  were  going.  My  cousin  an<l  other  friends,  insisted! 
that  I  should  not  go,  saying  that  it  wjts  not  a  tit  or  suitable 
idace  for  a  vouui;  ladv.  Thev  dreade<l  the  influence  of  this 
meeting  on  my  mind,  but  mother  insisted  that  I  slumld  go, 
and  tliey  concluded  it  W(»uld  not  do  to  opjMJse  her,  so  it  was 
determined  that  if  I  went,  my  cousin  should  accompany  us, 
thinking  that  she  might  keep  me  from  jnining  tin*  pniyer- 


40  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

meetings.  It  was  necessary  to  make  great  preparations ;  all 
the  aristocracy  were  to  go,  and  it  wonld  be  a  great  place  to 
show  off,  and  to  make  a  grand  appearance.  So  cousin  set 
herself  about  arranging  our  dress,  a  new  hat,  a  few  articles 
of  rich  jewelry,  with  some  new  style  of  goods  made  up,  to 
add  to  my  wardrobe;  no  expense  or  trouble  was  sj)ared  to 
make  me  appear  fine,  and  we  appeared  on  the  camp  ground 
much  to  the  satisfaction  of  this  proud  cousin. 

My  father  was  a  candidate  for  congress  this  same  year. 
He  was  a  political  as  well  as  a  business  man,  and  spent 
about  twelve  years  in  congress.  At  that  time  camp-meet- 
ings afforded  a  good  opportunity  for  electioneering,  by 
bowing  politely  to  this  one  and  that  one,  shaking  hands 
warmly,  and  occasionally  talking  of  the  great  business 
matters  which  were  to  occupy  the  next  congress,  during 
the  intermissions;  for  this  purpose  my  father  went  with  us.-' 

TVlien  we  arrived  at  the  camp,  Cousin  said  to  me,  '•  Xow, 
I  hope  you  will  not  disgrace  yourself  and  your  friends  by 
going  into  those  prayer-meetings;  keep  on  the  outside 
among  the  '  genteel  people,'  then  you  will  not  come  under 
the  influence  of  this  fanaticism.  We  can  hear  the 
minister  just  as  well  here  as  if  we  were  nearer  the  altar, 
where  there  is  so  much  praying  and  groaning  going  on." 
For  the  lirst  day  I  adhered  to  her  counsel;  but  let  me  tell 
you,  my  dear  reader,  when  I  heard  the  groan  of  the  heart- 
stricken  penitent,  the  fervent  prayer  of  the  righteous,  the 
shout  of  the  new-born  soul,  it  went  to  my  heart  like 
electricity.  I  felt  I  had  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
of  God,  and  if  I  continued  in  that  course  my  soul  would  be 
lost  and  forever.  I  left  the  camp-meeting  that  evening  as 
miserable  as  I  could  possibly  be.  Mrs.  Walker's  house  was 
crowded  with  the  aristocracy.    I  spent  a  sad  night  resolving  I 


FRONTIKR    UKK.  JT 

would  take  off  my  jewelrv  ( fnr  this  cousin  luul  mo  ailoniwl 
with  one  or  two  hundrtMl  dolhirs'  worth  nf  jewelry),  then 
I  wouKl  put  on  a  |>lain  «,Mrh  and  join  thi*  prayer-circle  an<l 
confess  my  sins,  and  see  if  tlie  Lord  would  lutt  have  mercy 
upon  me,  and  pardon  nu'.  Hut  my  heart  faile<l  me 
in  the  morniuir;  1  dared  not  aj)pear  at  the  hreakfast  tahle 
without  my  jewels,  as  I  knew  that  I  would  incur  ^rent 
displeasure,  and  receive  a  re})roof  from  my  father  and 
Cousin;  st>  I  appeared  as  usual.  Ihvakfast  over,  an<l  we 
were  soon  on  the  camp-ground.  There  had  l)een  a  short 
sermon,  and  now  they  were  engat^nl  in  a  pniyer-meeting. 
Tlie  i^round  was  covered  with  the  slain  of  the  L>rd,  and 
among  them  who  were  slain  were  a  ^Ir.  McAvoy,  a  wealthy 
farmer  who  resided  in  that  vicinity,  and  his  wife.  "Oh I'* 
said  ^Irs.  AValker,  "who  would  ever  have  thought  Mr. 
McAvoy  would  come  to  this.  He  has  ])ersecuted  these 
Methodists  so;  he  has  said  everything  against  them  he 
could  think  of.  I  bet^in  to  think  there  is  more  in  this  than 
mere  enthusiasm,  or  it  would  never  affect  them  so  greatly 
— never  throw  them  into  aj^onv  s»>  entirelv  unendunihle. 
Do  go  and  see  them;  they  say  they  cannot  live  long  in  this- 
state  of  mind.  lie  says  he  will  go  crazy  or  die  if  he  does 
not  get  to  the  camp-ground  to  ask  the  ministers  and 
people  to  pray  for  him."  Mrs.  McAvoy  luwl  l»een 
religouslv  inclined  for  some  time,  hut  her  husband  would 
not  allow  her  to  go  to  the  meetings.  Hut  now,  ti>  see  them 
in  such  agony  I  AVlio  Ciin  account  for  it  f  It  was, — it  must 
have  been  from  the  Lord. 

AVe  started  toward  the  altar,  where  they  were;  welieanla 
shout  among  them;  Mrs  W.  remarked  that  she  *'ho|)ed  they 
felt  better."  Just  then  we  met  a  lady  as  happy  as  she 
could  be.  "OhI''  sheexclaimed,  "^fr.  an<l  >fr-  ^[.•  \v..v  liavi^ 


42  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

got  religion ;  the  Lord  has  blessed  them,  and  their  sorrow 
and  mourning  has  been  turned  to  joy ;  they  love  everybody 
now — the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich;  bless  and  praise  the 
Lord  for  religion."  AVe  approached  a  little  nearer;  it  seemed 
everybody  around  them  were  rejoicing;  not  only  the  angels 
in  heaven  rejoiced,  but  the  children  of  God  upon  the  earth 
rejoiced  over  those  converted  souls  that  were  justified  by 
a  Saviour's  blood,  through  a  living  faith.  But  my  poor 
heart  was  dark  and  gloomy.  I  wanted  to  get  right  down 
there  and  ask  the  people  to  pray  for  me,  but  I  dared  not. 
How  heavy  my  jewelry  felt;  I  thought  it  heavier  than  the 
convict's  chain,  and  gladly  would  I  have  shaken  them  off- 
Just  then  the  horn  sounded  for  the  public  service,  and  oh  I 
what  a  congregation  assembled;  not  less  than  six  thousand 
persons,  and  nearly  all  seated.  Mr.  Barnet  ascended  the 
pulpit,  read  a  chapter,  sang  a  hymn,  selected  his  text;  it 
was  these  words:  ''Rejoice,  oh,  young  man  in  the  days  of 
thy  youth,  and  let  thy  heart  cheer  thee.  But  remember  for 
all  this,  God  will  bring  you  to  judgment."  ''L'ncle  William 
Barnet,"  as  the  members  of  his  congregation  called  him, 
but  was  called  by  outsiders,  '•  the  patent  bellows,"  because 
he  was  a  powerful  minister,  often  preaching  from  one  to 
three  hours  at  a  time.  On  this  occasion  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  observed,  and  he  preached  three  hours.  He  made  a 
very  commanding  appearance  in  the  pulpit,  being  a  large, 
portly  man.  He  lingered  on  the  first  lines  of  his  text, 
*' Rejoice,  oh,  young  man  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  let 
thy  heart  cheer  thee,"  and  handled  it  in  a  masterly  manner. 
He  held  up  to  view  all  the  vain  pursuits  of  pleasure-seek- 
ing minds,  to  those  young  persons  present,  and  said  '-rejoice, 
oh  I  young  man  or  young  woman."  He  held  up  the  devices 
and  habits  of  the  profanely  wicked,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 


FKo.MIKK      I.IKK.  4^5 

briiii;  lioinc  }M»werfiil  ('((in  i('ti<»ii>  to  tlif  lu-ai-t,  that  all  was 
not  ritj:lit,  altliuii*^li  lie  said,  "rtj(»ic*e  in  thr  (lav>  *>i  thy 
juiith,"  and  then  lie  hnmi^dit  hnnie  the  lattei*  (•lau>e  nf  his 
text. 

He  then  made  the  usnal  dixine  appeal,  whieh  was 
powerfully  attended  hy  l»ein«^  Inirne  honii-  to  the  heart  of 
every  sinner.  He  ^»;ave  an  invitation  foi*  all  who  wi>hed  the 
prayers  of  (rod's  people  to  come  to  the  altar.  The  invitation 
was  aeeepte<l  by  many,  who  crowded  around  the  altar  for 
prayers,  seekinii;  i)ar(lon  of  God  fo;-  their  sins.  Many  fell 
prostrate  to  the  li-round,  who  eould  not  <^et  to  the  altar,  ery- 
m<r  aloud  to  the  J^ord  for  merev.  Then  I  resolved  to  •'ive 
expression  to  my  feelings,  and  make  known  my  desires  ]>y 
going  to  the  altar,  and  with  some  difficulty,  I  made  my  way 
there,  kneelin<r  down,  hei^jrinj^  the  Lord  to  have  merev  on 
me,  feeling  that  I  could  bear  any  reproach  or  persecution 
that  might  be  heaped  upon  me  in  consequence  of  this  act, 
even  horse-wliipj)ing,  which  I  had  been  threatened  with. 

My  mother  rejoiced  at  this  decisive  move  of  mine,  and 
managed  to  keep  near  me.  A  younger  cousin  went  with  me, 
and  we  had  not  been  there  lon<;,  when  the  cousin  that  acte<i 
as  watch  over  my  moves,  followed  us,  endeavoring  to  get 
us  away  from  the  altar,  saying  to  my  m»>ther,  "Aunt,  do  let 
me  get  them  away  from  there,  for  they  will  certainly  Ik.' 
smothered  to  death."  She  was  almost  frantic,  and  caught 
hoM  of  me,  attempted  to  drag  me  out;  l)Ut  mother  told 
her  to  give  herself  no  uneasiness  about  us.  that  she  thought 
we  would  not  smother,  and  that  she  thought  she  could  at- 
tend to  us,  in  case  danger  threatened,  but  had  no  i(h'a  that 
any  such  misfortune  would  occni-,  and  that  she  would  attend 
to  us,  and  theref(»re  to  give  licrM'lf  no  further  uneasiness 
aluMit  it. 


44  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

My  cousin  retired  after  mv  mother  said  that,  but  she 
came  back  soon  after,  and  said,  "  Your  father  says  you  must 
come  out  immediately ;  he  says  the  horses  are  ready  and  we 
must  go  now  to  Mrs.  Walker's. "  Mother  then  told  us  '^we 
had  better  come  out  and  go  with  father,  if  we  could  con- 
sistently with  our  feelings.-'  AYe  made  our  way  through 
the  weej^ing  and  praying  crowd.  I  felt  I  had  done  my  duty 
for  once,  and  that  my  heavenly  Father  approved  of  the 
course  I  had  taken.  I  felt  a  degree  of  peace  in  believing 
and  trusting  him, — his  gi-ace  would  sustain  me  under  any 
treatment  that  awaited  me.  I  expected  the  fro\\Tis  of  my 
father  and  fi-iends,  and  feared  the  whipping  my  eldest 
brother  had  threatened  me  with,  but  oh,  how  sweet  those 
words  were  applied  to  my  mind,  '^  when  thy  friends  all  for- 
sake thee,  then  will  I  take  thee  up."  As  we  left  the  camp- 
ofround  we  could  hear  the  cries  of  the  penitent  for  mercy, 
and  the  shouts  of  new  born  souls.  Even  the  outskirts  of 
the  conorreoration  were  as  solemn  as  death.  The  whole 
camp  ground  seemed  sacred  on  account  of  the  pi'esence  of 
the  Lord. 

We  were  taken  to  Mrs.  Walker's.  Father  left  us  there* 
and  then  went  to  a  political  meeting  in  that  neighborhood. 
There  was  a  house  full  of  aristocrats,  who  gazed  at  me 
with  incjuisitive  looks.  I  thought  if  I  could  retire  from 
the  parlor  I  would  be  glad.  I  felt  as  though  I  wanted  to 
get  to  some  retired  spot  and  pour  out  my  heart  to  Him 
who  hears  the  prayer  of  the  truly  penitent.  I  longed  to 
be  stripped  of  my  gay  clothing  and  jewelry.  They  felt  like 
weio^hts  clintrintj  to  me,  and  that  thev  had  been  the  means 
the  enemy  of  my  soul  and  my  friends  had  used  to  divert 
my  mind  from  God  and  my  best  interests,  I  v\'as  convinced. 

I   soon  had   an  opportunity  to   pass    into    the  dressing 


FRONTIER    LIKK.  45 

room,  ^fy  cousin  followed  ]i\v,  and  said,  "  Now,  Coiibin, 
3'ou  have  Hcte<l  a  vvvy  silly  part  to-day,  hut  your  friendii 
will  overlook  it  <ind  forgive  you,  as  you  are  vouii^.  (\nne, 
wash  up  and  conih  your  hair,  chan«:;e  your  apjiarel,  uiid 
come  out  and  he  cheerful  and  ti()oial  among  your  friends;  it 
will  all  he  (A'erlooked.  Let  me  assist  you,  do.  Look  here, 
here  is  that  1)eautiful  and  costly  pin  hanging  loosely,  I 
wonder  it  did  not  get  lost  during  that  huhhuh.  Oh,  dear 
me,  I  wish  we  had  never  come  to  this  meeting.'^  By  this 
time  I  was  weeping  hitterly.  "Come/'  she  said,  '' wi|)e 
away  these  tears  and  wash,  and  comh  your  hair,  and  come 
into  the  parlor;  you  will  soon  get  over  these  feelings  if 
you  go  into  the  right  company."  I  said,  ** Cousin,  do 
leave  me  alone,  if  you  please.  I  will  try  and  come  out 
as  soon  as  I  improve  my  appearance  a  little."  She  left  me, 
and  I  prayed  most  fervently  for  the  Lord  to  direct  me  in 
the  pathway  of  duty,  regardless  of  the  smiles  or  frowns  of 
anyone,  and  I  helieve  lie  did.  I  took  off  all  the  I'ewelrv 
which  hung  upon  me  and  tied  it  up  in  my  han<lkerchief, 
except  one  plain  pin,  which  I  thought  I  might  use.  I  took 
off  my  rich,  costly  rohe,  hought  especially  for  this  occasion, 
and  put  on  a  plain,  dark  gingham  dress,  and  pinntnl  a 
handkerchief  around  my  neck  with  that  j)lain  j)in.  I  went 
to  the  mirror  to  arrange  it  a  little.  Upon  glancing  in  the 
mirror  I  felt  convicted.  I  do  helieve  the  impression  was 
made  hy  the  spirit  of  God;  I  felt  it,  and  almost  sjxjke  out 
loud,  ''This  has  been  your  stumbling  block,  if  there  is  sin  in 
wearing  a  great  deal  there  is  sin  in  wearing  a  little,  'Touch 
not,  handle  not  the  unclean  thing.'  'Be  not  confornRnl  to 
the  world,  Init  be  ye  transformetl  by  the  renewing  of  your 
mind.' "  I  thought  if  these  badges  of  heathenism  had 
shut  the  life  of  God  out  of  mv  soul,  thev  shall  not  do  it  any 


46  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

longer;  I  will  cast  tliein  from  me.  So  I  2)iit  that  witli  the 
rest.  I  did  then,  and  do  now,  believe  that  the  spirit  « >f  God 
led  me  to  do  as  I  did,  and  I  never  have  worn  anv  jewelry 
since.  To  me  it  was  a  sin,  and  I  do  believe  it  will  hinder 
a  growth  of  the  spirit.  I  pray  the  Lord  to  save  the  chnrch 
from  this  sin.  I  then  combed  my  hair  down  plain;  it  was 
fashionable  then  to  wear  curled  hair,  and  mine  had  been 
curled  at  a  great  expense  of  time  and  trouble.  In  this 
plain  dress  I  went  into  the  parlor,  and  tried  to  be  cheerful. 
]My  cousin  pounced  upon  me,  while  all  the  company  looked 
astonished.  But  my  mother,  and  dear  Mother  Johnson,  a 
pious  old  lady  who  was  there,  they  looked  upon  me  with  a 
smile  of  approbation.  My  mother  whispered  to  Mrs. 
Johnson,  "  I  hope  the  victory  is  gained;  dress  has  been  a 
a  great  detriment  to  her.  I  hope,  as  she  has  taken  this 
position  at  this  time,  that  she  will  be  decided.-' 

"  I  hope  so,  too,"  said  Mrs.  Johnson,  ''  I  see  there  is 
some  decision  about  her.-' 

I  tried  to  be  cheerful,  and  indeed  I  was.  I  felt  I  had 
done  my  duty,  and,  although  some  scorned  me,  I  felt  that 
God  loved  me,  and  he  was  drawing  nearer  to  me  as  I  tried 
to  draw  nearer  Him.  I  felt  that  the  people  of  God  were 
praying  for  me  at  the  camp-ground,  and  that  was  a  consola- 
tion to  me.  I  knew  that  Mother  Johnson  and  my  ow^i 
dear  mother  were  praying  for  me,  and  I  felt  like  going  to 
some  quiet  spot,  and  there  praise  the  Lord  for  the  comfort 
I  felt  in  trying  to  take  up  my  cross  and  follow  Him.  and 
beseech  Him  to  give  a  greater  manifestation  of  love  to  my 
poor  heart.  I  retired  to  a  glen,  in  the  meadow  not 
far  from  the  house,  where  I  had  often  been  to  gather 
flowers.  I  fell  upon  my  knees  on  the  clean  grass;  the 
hollow   was  not    very   deep,  but    sufficient  to  conceal  me 


FKoNTIKIi    i.in;.  47 

iVuiii  ultstTvatiuii;  aiul  thcru  jxmivd  out  luv  muiI  Im  Hint 
^v\nJ  seetli  in  secret,  for  an  evidence  of  acceptance.  lit? 
gave  it  to  nie;  I  felt  that  He  was  mine  and  I  was  His.  A 
sweet  peace  j)ervaded  my  wlicde  soul;  I  felt  that  (4od  w>is 
love,  and  that  He  loved  me,  unworthy  me.  I  felt  that  I 
loved  everybody,  and  Jesus,  the  lover  of  sinners,  l(>ve<l  me, 
not  me  alone,  hut  that  he  loved  and  interce<k»<l  fur  those 
dear  ones  who  seemed  so  indifferent  ahout  their  precious 
Souls.  It  seemed  to  me  I  almijst  heard  him  say,  "  Father, 
fori^ive  them,  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

Aluuit  sundown  I  went  to  the  house.  There  wjis  a  sweet 
calm  on  mv  c^juntenance.  Everv  one  saw  the  chanm.*,  and 
it  seemed  to  make  a  deep  impression  upon  the  minds  uf 
all,  and  especially  my  cousin.  She  had  to  struggle  hard  to 
keep  from  expressing  her  feelings.  Had  she  given 
exj)ression  to  her  thoughts,  it  prohahly  would  have  heen 
something  like  this:  '*.I  feel  I  am  a  sinner,  undone,  without 
the  panloning  grace  of  (t«x1."  There  were  others  who  felt 
as  deeply  as  she,  but  there  was  n<)  one  there  who  dared  to 
say  to  them  "  Come  to  Jesus  just  now,"  *•  Ilej>ent  and 
believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  you  shall  Ik.*  saved."  I 
believe  if  there  had  been  a  suitable  person,  a  minister  or 
class  leader,  there  to  have  held  a  prayer-meeting,  there  would 
have  been  a  number  converted  that  night,  ^fy  mother  and 
Mrs.  Johnson  were  very  timid  naturally,  and  had  never  })raye<i 
in  ])ublic,  and  I  felt  too    timid  to  say  anything. 

We  went  to  bed,  but  1  could  not  sleep.  I  felt  so  hapj)y  in 
nie<litatinj'  on  themercvof  mv  Heaveiilv  Father,  I  felt  my 
Saviour  very  near.  I  seemed  to  be  in  an  <»cean  of  love. 
Soon  after  we  retired,  there  was  a  severe  storm,  (I  always 
was  very  much  alaiMne(l  in  a  tliuiider  .-torm,)  the  lightning 
Hashed,  the  mutteriiiir  thunder  rolled  over  our  heiwls,  m  near 


48  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

that  the  house  trembled,  the  wind  blew,  and  a  tempest 
seemed  to  be  abroad.  But  for  the  first  time  in  mj 
life,  I  was  not  afraid.  I  felt  that  mj  Saviour's  arms 
•encompassed  me,  and  I  was  safe,  come  life  or  death, 
my  soul  was  happv.  I  felt  a  sweet  assurance  that  God, 
ior  Christ's  sake,  had  for  given  my  sins,  and  I  doubted 
no  more ;  no,  not  for  one  moment  have  I  ever  doubted 
my  conversion  to  God  at  that  time,  although  it  has 
l)een  almost  fifty  years  since.  Oh!  what  seasons  I 
liave  seen  since  I  felt  this  union  with  the  Father, 
Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  blessed  three  in  one,  and  one  in 
three,  and  the  children  of  God. 

Happy  day  that  fixed  my  choice 
On  thee,  my  Saviour,  aud  my  God, 

Well  might  this  loving  heart  rejoice, 
And  tell  its  raptures  all  abroad. 

'Tis  done,  the  great  transaction's  done, 

I  am  my  Lord's,  and  he  is  mine, 
He  drew  me,  and  I  followed  on, 

Charmed  to  confess  the  power  divine. 

Happy  day,  happy  day,  when  Jesus 

Washed  my  sins  away; 
He  taught  me  how  to  watch  and  pray, 

And  hve  rejoicing  every  day, 
Happy  day,  happy  day,  when  Jesus 

Washed  mv  sins  awav. 


KlioNllKli    LIKK.  49 


CIIAPTEK  V 


RECOLLECTIONS     OF     EARLY     MARRIED     LIFE. DEATH     OF 

MY    FATHER,    BABE,    BROTHER    AND    MOTHER. 

I  went  home  from  camp-meeting  a  new  creature, 
and  evervbodj  seemed  to  realize  it.  The  news  spread 
far  and  wide,  that  I  had  got  religion  at  the  camp- 
meeting.  My  friends  who  had  opposed  me  so  much 
seemed  to  give  me  up  as  a  lost  case,  only  occasionally 
tempting  me,  or  trying  to  do  bo,  with  some  new 
style  of  dress  or  some  fancy  jewelry;  but  they 
always  found  me  iirm  in  my  purpose.  Some  said, 
''  She  is  crazy ;"  others  said,  ''  Let  her  alone,  and  see 
what  it  will  come  to."  I  tried  to  live  near  the  Lord 
}}\  reading  the  Scriptures,  as  well  as  praying  much  in 
secret.  I  read  the  New  Testament  through  «>n  my 
knees,  and  fasted  every  Friday.  And  oh,  what  sweet 
communion  I  enjoyed  with  my  ])lessed  Saviour!  I 
still  attended  iiieetinors  at  Father  Reed's,  and  found 
the  class  tliere  most  interesting.  The  class  incrcuse<l 
rapidly,  and  in  due  time  a  nice  hewed  log  church  wjis 
built.  It  was  located  about  two  miles  from  Father 
Reed's,  in  a  lovely  grove,  near  a  nice  stream  of  water 


50  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

and  a  large  sj^ring,  and  had  a  camp-ground  laid  out 
around  it.  Oh  I  what  precious  seasons  I  have  enjoyed 
there — at  circuit  preaching,  class  meetings,  quarterly 
meetings  and  camp  meetings.  I  have  witnessed  the 
conversion  of  very  many  souls  on  that  sacred  ground ; 
most  of  whom  have  long  since  reached  the  climes  of 
glory,  hut  there  are  a  few  of  us  left,  looking  over  to 
the  promised  land,  feeling  that  we  are  fully  able  to  go 
up  and  possess  the  land  when  the  Master  shall  say, 
'^  It  is  enough!  come  up  higher.-'  I  resolved  by  the 
grace  of  God  to  cheerfully  perform  every  kno^vn  duty 
and  to  do  all  the  good  I  possibly  could. 

My  mother  had  for  many  years  been  in  the  habit  of 
visiting  the  sick  and  with  her  owtl  hands  administer- 
ing to  the  wants  of  the  poor  and  needy  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, both  black  and  white.  As  she  grew  older 
her  health  failed,  and  she  gave  up  this  work  to  me. 
I  enjoyed  it  very  much,  rest  assured.  I  had  often 
accompanied  her  on  these  errands,  assisting  her  with 
the  baskets  and  bundles,  but  to  have  it  to  do  alone 
was  a  delight  to  my  heart,  as  I  did  it  in  the  name  of 
my  Master,  remembering  that  He  said,  ''  Inasmuch 
as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these, 
ye  have  done  it  unto  me."  I  can  never  forget  how  it 
cheered  my  heart  to  hear  the  hearty  "  God  bless  you  I" 

I  well  remember  one  circumstance.  On  a  pleasant 
afternoon  a  keel-boat,  bound  up  the  river,  landed  at 
the  wharf.  While  assisting  the  deck-hands  in  load- 
ing,  a  colored  boy  belonging  at  my  father's,  happened 
to  pass  the  cabin.  As  he  did  so  he  heard  a  feeble 
moan,  and  looking  in  saw  a  very  distressing  spectacle. 
There  were  two  men,  three  women  and  a  number  of 


FlinNlIKK    1,1 1  "K.  51 

children,  all  prostrate  on  a  Irw  dirty  (juiltn  8j>rea<l 
U|)uii  the  cahiii  tlonr.  One  uf  tln'  women  was  very 
old.  She  asked  him  if  there  were  any  .\ri'thodists  in 
the  town.  lie  told  her  there  were  n(>t  many,  hnt  that 
he  knew  some.  "AVell,"  said  she,  with  a  trend)lin«^' 
voice,  ''will  you  tell  someone  of  them  that  theiv  is  an 
old  Methodist  lady  here  on  the  l>oat  wh«>  is  sufferin*^ 
almost  unto  death,  and  wonld  like  vory  much  to  si*c 
some  brother  or  sister." 

The  hoy  ran  home  and  told  inc.  I  at  once  consulted 
with  mv  mother,  who  t(»ld  me  to  ^o  to  mv  hrother's 
store,  ac<juaiiit  him  with  the  circumstances  and  ask 
him  to  ^i>  with  me  and  learn  the  ]>articulars  of  the 
family's  distress.  I  did  so,  and  we  learned  that  there 
were  a  number  belont^iu"-  to  the  family,  brothers  an<l 
brothers-in-law,  who  had  gone  down  the  Mississij)}>i 
to  carry  on  a  wood  yard  to  supply  the  steamboats 
which  were  then  running,  with  fuel.  They  were  in 
quite  comfortable  circumstances  when  they  started  in 
the  business,  but  in  a  short  time,  one  after  another 
\vere  taken  sick  with  bilious  fever,  and  could  get  no 
help  until  everything  they  had  brought  with  them  and 
all  they  had  earned  was  gone,  even  to  tlie  last  feather 
bed,  which  the  doctor  had  taken  from  un<ler  the  tdd 
lady  a  few  days  before  they  left.  The  captain  ♦•f  the 
boat  had  taken  them  «>n  b(»ard  under  these  circum- 
stances, bringing  them  thus  far,  and  now  he  thought 
the  people  ought  to  take  care  of  them.  Some  (»f  them 
had  not  eaten  anything  for  several  days,  and  immeiii- 
ate  helj)  was  necessary.  l>rother  said  lie  wouhl  pro. 
vide  a  house  and  have  them  remove<l  to  it  if  1  w<»uld 
get  some  nourishment  for  tliem.     Tlii>  was  no  6iK>ner 


52  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

said  than  done.  AVliile  I  Avent  to  get  some  food  and 
clothing,  he  had  them  carried  to  a  nice  house,  and  we 
soon  had  them  as  comfortable  as  possible  under  the 
circumstances.  Oh!  how  often  did  that  dear  old  lady 
lay  her  hands  on  my  head  and  say,  "  God  bless  the 
child."  She  was  very  aged,  and  had  been  a  Methodist 
for  over  forty  years.  She  had  heard  the  AVesleys 
(Fletcher  and  Cook)  preach.  She  was  very  intelligent 
and  communicative,  and  I  spent  many  pleasant  and 
proiitable  hours  with  her  and  her  pious  family.  Both 
the  daughters  were  devoted  Christians  and  the  son-in- 
law  was  a  local  preacher,  all  Methodists.  They  proved 
to  be  a  very  useful  family  in  our  village.  We  had 
prayer  meetings  at  their  house,  and  it  was  there  that 
I  for  the  lirst  time  prayed  in  public.  AVell  do  I 
remember  what  a  cross  it  was;  but  right  under  the 
cross  the  Lord  blessed  me,  and  I  felt  more  assured 
than  ever  by  His  assisting  grace  to  bear  the  cross. 
This  dear  old  lady  lived  to  see  me  very  sick,  after  my 
mother's  death,  and  her  trembling  hands  tenderly 
administered  to  my  comfort.  It  was  then  my  turn  to 
to  say,  "  God  bless  you,  my  dear  old  Mother  in  Israel." 
And  I  did  it  most  fervently,  I  can  assure  you,  my 
dear  reader.  I  have  no  doubt  the  old  lady  has  won  a 
bright  crown  in  glory  long  since. 

During  the  summer  of  1820  I  became  acquainted 
with  Dr.  John  Roe,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
near  Philadelphia,  August  20th,  1800.  He  was  a  very 
pious  young  man,  and  had  been  converted  at  a  revival 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  was  born,  through  the 
labor  and  influence  of  Pev.  William  Hibbard,  when 
about  nineteen  years  of  age.     Father  IIibl)ard  was  a 


FRONTIKK    I.IFK.  Ti^ 

great  revivalist.  The  >].irll  «»1"  iIr-  l.^nl  attrnilc*!  his 
lalxirs,  aiul  the  ivforniatiuii  spread  greatly  aiinmg  the 
young  Quakers,  some  very  singular  (leiiionstrutions 
resulting,  such  as  jumping  and  falling  ]>rnstrate  on 
the  ti(>(»r  and  lying  for  hours  as  tln»ugh  they  were 
dead.  ( )n  one  occasion  a  young  Quaker  lady  fell  <»n 
the  tloor  ami  lay  so  long  that  many  thought  she  was 
really  dead,  and  they  finally  called  a  doctor,  who  said, 
**  She  is  dead.  Yes;  as  dead  as  she  ever  will  he."  "  I 
think,"  said  a  whcde-s(>uled  Meth(Klist, '*  she  is  onlv 
dying  to  sin,  and  will  soon  live  to  righteousness."' 
Just  then  she  bounded  to  her  feet  and  cried,  *'  Glory 
to  God  I  Hallelujah!  Praise  the  Lord!  '  As  far  as 
the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  hath  the  Lord  sepa- 
rated my  sins  from  me! '  "  Then  there  was  a  sliout  in 
the  camp,  and  the  doctor  was  put  to  the  blush.  Hut 
the  blessed  work  went  on  and  Sarah  was  converted, 
fca*  the  Lord  was  in  it.  Mr.  Roe  was  under  Quaker 
influence  and  had  strong  prejudices  against  the  Meth- 
o<lists,  but  in  this  revival  he  was  powerfully  convertetl 
and  took  a  decided  stand  in  the  Methodi>t  church,  for 
which  he  warf  severely  persecuteil.  15ut  in  a  short 
time  many  of  his  associates  were  also  c«»nverte<l,  most 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  many  of  his  cc»usins 
being  brought  into  the  covenant  of  grace  and  joining 
the  M.  E.  Church.  A  short  time  after  this  he  emi- 
grated t<j  the  West,  lie  took  his  letter  of  memljer- 
>hip  with  him,  uniting  with  the  Churdi  wlierever  he 
found  it.  IlestopptMl  a  while  in  ^faysville.  Ky.,  on  the 
( )hio  river,  traveled  through  the  s«»uthern  j»art  of 
Indiana  and  Illin<jis,  and  finally  went  to  the  south- 
ern ]»art  of  Kentucky,  wliere  he  settled   in  the  vilhige 


64:  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

of  Eddyville  on  the  Cumberland  river.  It  was  here 
that  I  became  acquainted  with  him,  and  we  were 
united  in  marriage  on  the  eleventh  day  of  Xovember, 
1821.  Mj  friends  opposed  this  union  verv  much,  not 
because  thev  did  not  respect  Mr.  Eoe,  for  they  thought 
very  much  of  him,  but  because  he  was  poor,  and  they 
did  not  consider  me  fit  for  a  poor  man's  wife.  I 
knew  nothing  of  hard  labor  or  house-keeping.  I  had 
been  tauo-ht  habits  of  industry,  but  knew  nothino' 
about  hardships.  Mv  mother,  w^hen  consulted  on 
the  sul:)ject,  said  that  she  had  no  ol)jection  whatever  to 
him,  but  regretted  very  much  my  inexperience  in 
house-keeping,  and  if  I  would  stay  at  home  a  year 
longer,  she  w^ould  instruct  me  in  these  mysteries. 
But  we  thought  experience  a  pretty  good  school  mas- 
ter, and  so  w^e  were  married  and  went  to  house-keep- 
ing. I  made  many  blunders,  such  as  trying  to  make 
light  bread  and  forgetting  to  put  in  the  yeast,  then 
having  to  throw  it  away;  churning  a  great  while  and 
not  getting  any  butter  out  of  the  cream,  then  having 
to  feed  that  to  the  i^igs;  making  pie  crust  and  forget- 
ting to  put  in  the  shortening ;  burning  the  beef  steak ; 
making  bad  coffee ;  and  not  washing  the  clothes  clean 
after  rubbing  the  skin  nearly  all  off  my  liands.  There 
were  no  washing  machines  in  those  days,  and  I  never 
saw^  a  wash  board  until  after  I  was  the  mother  of 
three  or  four  children. 

Thus  I  labored  under  a  great  many  disadvantages 
for  not  having  been  taught  house-work.  I  think  it 
the  duty  of  every  mother  to  teach  her  daughters  to 
work.  It  is  an  easy  matter  to  neglect,  but  hard  to 
acquire  habits  of  industry  without  instruction.     The 


i-K(».\Tii;i:   MM.  55 

i:»>c»(l  Lord  onlv  knows  what  it  ctot  iin'.  Mv  «lear 
mother  intended  to  teach  nie  some  time,  hut  liad  nu 
idea  uf  my  marrvini^  so  yoiuii^.  It  is  far  the  ln-st  to 
ac(jiiire  habits  of  doing  li()use  work  wliile  youn*;,  aft 
early  habits  are  histing,  whether  for  «;o(m1  or  evil.  I 
strove  to  learn,  and  by  de<^rees,  with  the  aid  of  divine 
ij^race,  overcame  many  ditHculties  which  I  met  with. 
My  friends  were  astonished  at  my  j»ro«;ress,  and  my 
motlier  often  said,  "It  is  the  i(race  of  (To<i  that 
enables  her  to  do  so;  she  could  not  «;et  alon«;  so  well 
if  it  were  not  for  religion."  How  truly  I  felt  this. 
AVe  erected  the  altar  of  })rayer  in  our  house  on  tlie 
day  of  our  marriage,  and  by  the  grace  of  (lod  we 
have  kept  it  up  ever  since — forty-tive  year.-.  Wo 
lived  humbly,  and  tried  to  do  our  duty  in  everything. 
!My  husband  was  appointed  class-leader  of  the  little 
class  in  our  village,  which  })rospered  nicely  and  a  num- 
ber oi  precious  souls  were  converted.  The  Circuit 
Preacher  received  us  into  his  charge,  and  his  lalM.rs 
were  blest  of  God  to  the  building  up  of  this  CliuR'li, 
and  the  old  ''camp-lire''-  never  went  out,  though  buni- 
ir.ir  feeblv  at  times,  until  there  was  a  church  built  ami 
-Methodism  firmly  established  there. 

AVe  remained  in  Kentucky  for  a  numl>er  of  years, 
during  wliich  time  my  father  died,  away  fn»m  liome, 
but  n(jt  without  leaving  us  some  h<»pe  (»f  his  having 
made  his  peace  with  (io(l.  After  my  father's  death, 
my  mother  and  youngest  brother  came  to  live  with 
us  while  he  was  ])reparing  a  new  home  for  them. 
Duriiiir  this  time  the  Lord  had  bh'»e<l  us  with  a  dear 
little  S(^n,  whom  we  named  Matthew  llumj^hrey,  after 
his  two   i;randfathers.        This    made  a   verv    pleu.-iiint 


56  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

family.  Mother,  husband  and  myself  felt  a  great 
desire  for  the  salvation  of  my  dear  brother.  We. 
labored  with  him  in  love,  but  his  heart's  warmest 
affections  seemed  centered  in  little  Matthew,  or  "  Lit- 
tle Joe,''  as  he  in  a  lit  of  pleasantry  named  him  the  first 
time  he  saw  him.  He  almost  idolized  the  little  one. 
and  a  play  with  him  was  the  first  thing  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  at  night  he  would  spend  hours  with  •*  dear 
little  Joe,"  as  he  called  him.  A  few  months  after  my 
brother  and  mother  had  moved  to  their  new  home, 
"dear  little  Joe"  was  taken  very  sick  with  croup,  a  very 
sudden  and  dangerous  disease  in  any  climate,  but  par- 
ticularly so  in  the  South.  A  physician  and  nurse 
were  sent  for  in  haste,  and  everything  that  was  pos- 
sible was  done  to  arrest  the  disease,  but  to  no  pur- 
pose. My  brother  was  also  there,  and  was  greatly 
distressed.  "Oh  I  dear  sister,"  he  said,  ••  I  fear  we  are 
going  to  lose  'dear  little  Joe.'  And  what  shall  I  do^ 
I  feel  as  though  I  could  not  give  him  up;  how  can  I 
live  without  him?  I  can't  bear  to  see  him  suffer  such 
excruciating  pain  I  "  And  he  left  the  room  weeping 
as  thouo:h  his  heart  would  break.  In  a  few  hours  the 
sufferino^  of  our  little  one  ceased.  He  was  ten  months 
old.  Oh  I  how  he  had  twined  around  our  hearts.  "We 
did  not  know  how  much  we  loved  him  until  the  tender 
cords  which  bound  us  so  sweetly  together  were  l>ruken. 
But  we  knew  that  he  was  with .  us  no  more,  for  God 
had  taken  him  to  Heaven;  for  He  said,  while  on  earth, 
"  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  Me,  for  of  such 
is  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven." 

Then  some  kind  friends  dressed  him   so  neat  and 
sweet  in  his  white  babv  dress,  and  laid  him   on  the 


KKn.NlIKK    I. IKK.  57 

titancl  ill  the  i>;irlor,  foldiiiur  hj^  little  white  \miuU  uii 
that  breast  that  never  knew  sin.  Oh!  huw  silent  and 
solemn  that  l>eaiitiful  Sahhath  nn»riiin^',  July  Inth, 
18:>3.  Then  we  felt  that  we  had  a  new  tie  in  heaven 
and  fresh  ini})nlses  tu  press  un  uj)ward  and  towanl 
that  beautiful  w^rld  where  the  iidiabitauts  never 
say,  '*  AVe  are  sick.''  Well  do  I  remember  the  deep 
flood  of  sorrow  that  welled  up  from  my  dear  V)rother'« 
heart  when  he  called  that  morin'nt;,  and  said,  "Dear 
sister,  the  little  sufferer  has  m)ne  to  l)e  an  anjrel,  and 
I  shall  go  soon.  This  is  a  great  trial  for  you,  and  you 
must  try  and  bear  it  bravely.  May  (4od  help  you  I'* 
Ilis  remark,  '"  I  shall  go  soon/'  went  to  my  heart  like 
a  shock  of  electricity,  but  I  scarcely  conceived  how 
soon  his  words  would  come  true. 

The  funeral  sermon  for  our  babe  was  ])reache<l  by 
our  worthy  Circuit  Preacher  in  charge,  Krother  Knb- 
ins,  from  the  words  <jf  the  Prophet  to  the  Shunamite 
woman,  ''Is  it  well  with  thee^  Is  it  well  with  thy 
husbands  Is  it  well  with  the  child  f  And  she  >aid 
it  is  well."  The  sermon  was  consoling  to  our  hearts, 
and  we  felt  there,  under  that  cloud  of  sorrow,  the 
comforting  intiuence  of  the  grace  <>f  (iud.  I  felt  that 
He  was  the  rock  of  my  salvation,  and  that  my  feet 
were  on  that  rock.  II<»w  I  realized  the  force  of  the 
wnrd^i  nf  the  poet: 

The  dearest  joys  and  nearest  friends, 

The  partners  of  our  1)1(kx1, 
How  tlioy  (liN-ide  our  waveriuK'  minds, 

And  leave  but  half  for  Ciod. 

The  fondness  of  a  creature's  love. 

How  strong  it  strikoH  the  soum*. 
Thither  the  wann  afTin-tion  moven, 

Nor  can  we  call  it  then<M«. 


58  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Well  do  I  recollect  the  kind  svmpatlij  and  love 
manifested  towards  ns  that  day  while  we  moved  slowly 
to  the  ofravevard  and  committed  the  little  tenement  of 
clay  to  its  mother  dust.  Well  do  I  recollect  the 
impression  those  sweet  smiling  features  made,  when  I 
gave  the  last  look,  and  how  lonely  the  sound  as  the 
clods  fell  upon  the  coffin;  hut  ah  I  well  do  I  recollect 
the  sweet  assurance  I  felt  in  my  heart,  that  if  I  was 
faithful  to  the  grace  given  we  should  have  a  happy 
reunion  in  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul,  for  redeeming  grace  and  dying 
love. 

We  were  preparing  for  a  campmeeting  which  was  to 
commence  in  ahout  ten  days  on  Father  Keed's  camp- 
ground. The  time  arrived,  and  we  moved  onto  the 
grounds  in  Methodist  order.  Xo  one  said  anything 
against  it.  Mother  and  l)rother  went  with  us.  All 
ate  and  slept  on  the  same  campground.  It  was  the 
first  time  I  had  been  accorded  that  j^rivilege,  and  I 
assure  you  I  enjoyed  it.  O,  what  a  privilege  to  linger 
as  long  as  I  wished  in  the  prayer  circle,  there  to 
wrestle,  Jacob-like,  until  my  heart  Avas  filled  with  the 
joy  of  believing,  and  then,  in  my  feeble  manner,  direct 
the  mourner  to  the  Rock  that  was  cleft  for  them  and 
me,  and  see  them  take  the  cup  of  salvation  and  hear 
them  i^raise  the  Lord.  O!  it  was  joy  unspeakable. 
This  campmeeting  was  a  great  blessing  to  me  and 
mine.  My  dear  mother  was  much  blessed;  she  arose 
to  a  higher  state  of  grace  than  she  had  ever  enjoyed 
l)efore.  My  husband  was  commissioned  anew  for  the 
impijrtant  duty  that  involved  upon  him — he  was 
steward  and  class-leader.      A  little  colored  girl  and  a 


KKn.NTIKK    IIKK.  *  5*J 

vuiiiii;  iniin,  wlm  Uwd  witli  us,  wi-iv  Uitli  fniiMTttMl 
.111(1  j«MiK'(l  tlK'  flmivli,  ami  many  |>n*t'iourt  souls  were 
-aved.  My  brother  was  wry  niucli  awakeiK*<l,  iind 
l)e^aii  to  think  of  his  future  state  and  the  intei-est  of 
hitJ  precious  soul.  I  think  this  work  in  our  family  eoni- 
menced  fnnn  the  death  of  our  dear  little  Matthew,  and 
fervently  did  we  j)ray  that  what  seeme<l  to  us  an  atHie- 
tion  mii^ht  he  sanctified  to  tin*  i^^mmI  (.f  nur  familv. 
( )ne  nii::ht  our  tent  was  very  full,  and  my  hmther 
tlioUirht  he  Would  sleej)  in  a  harn  near  hy  on  some  hay. 
rnfortunatt'ly  the  liay  wa>  «lanij)  and  he  tonk  eolil 
and  it  settled  on  his  lunirs.  AVe  went  home  without 
his  heiiiiT  converted;  hut  then*  was  cjuite  a  chan-ie  in 
hi>  conduct  and  conver>ati(»n:  he  I'cad  the  hihle  and 
])rayed  in  secret.  His  health  failed  t^radually  hut 
very  j)erceptibly  to  those  that  l(»ved  him.  He 
w;is  very  fleshy — althout^h  not  «]uite  twenty-one  years 
of  ai;;e,  he  weighed  over  three  hundred  j>ounds,  J I  is 
apj)etite  failed,  and  he  complained  of  a  pain  ahout 
the  region  of  the  lungs.  The  l)est  medical  aid  was 
j)rocured.  hut  none  could  define  what  was  the  matter. 
1  was  with  him  ahout  three  weeks;  most  of  the  time 
he  felt  as  though  he  cauhl  not  have  me  leave  his  l>eti- 
>idi'.  He  said  from  the  first  he  should  never  i*eeover. 
I  often  felt  like  talking  to  him  on  the  subject,  but  his 
)»hy>ician  would  not  admit  of  it;  lie  said  it  would 
iiiil»e<le  his  recovery.  At  length  he  was  pronounced 
out  of  danger. 

About  this  time  1  wa>  taken  \  cry  siek  with  bil- 
lions fev»*r;  iii\  life  wa>  de-paired  of ;  no  one  thought 
it  ]K»ssible  for  me  to  recover.  I  was  for  twenty-fi»ur 
hours  insensible  to  all  around   me,  anil  then  ivvivtil, 


60  •  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

to  the  astonishment  of  all  my  friends.  My  brother 
was  so  much  better  it  Avas  thought  best  for 
him  to  ride  out,  and  he  did  so,  but  told  mother  it 
was  a  forced  effort,  he  was  really  no  better.  He  said 
he  wanted  to  yisit  me,  and  he  and  mother  came  up 
and  were  permitted  to  come  into  my  room,  but  with 
great  caution.  I  could  speak  but  a  few  words  at  a 
time.  He  appeared  much  gratified  to  see  me,  spoke 
of  how  he  had  missed  me  at  his  bedside,  and  as  he 
was  just  ready  to  start  he  took  mj  hand  and  said,  with 
all  the  warmth  of  a  brother's  pure  love,  "  Dear  sister, 
be  cheerful,  you  will  get  well,  but  I  neyer  shall."  I 
was  trying  to  say  something  to  him  in  my  great 
weakness,  when  he  drew  his  hand  out  of  mine  and  was 
gone.  Two  days  after,  while  preparing  to  yisit  a 
brother,  who  liyed  a  short  distance  from  our  j^lace, 
he  took  a  chill.  He  had  been  yery  anxious  to  go 
before  he  took  this  chill,  then  said  he,  "  Mother,  I  shall 
neyer  go  now."  Mother  encouraged  him  to  think  he 
would  be  better,  and  then  he  could  go  next  day,  but 
while  she  turned  to  the  stand  to  get  him  some  wine 
and  water,  he  raised  up  on  his  elbow  to  take  the  drink, 
his  head  fell  forward,  and  his  soul  passed  into  the 
the  spirit  world.  It  was  on  the  22d  of  Sept.,  1S23. 
Then  it  was  decided  that  there  was  a  tumor  formed 
on  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  lungs,  and  it  had 
broken  and  suffocated  him.  The  physician  came  and 
tried  to  restore  him,  but  to  no  effect;  thus  the  hope 
of  a  fond  and  aged  mother,  and  the  joy  of  a  loying 
sister,  dropped  into  the  grave  of  the  youth,  unexpect- 
edly to  many,  for  most  of  his  friends  thought  him  out 
of    dano^er.      He    ffave  mother  many  eyidences  of  a 


KKONTIKK    I.IH;,  61 

change  of  lieart.  He  loved  the  wunl  «»f  (io<l,  and  the 
society  of  religious  })eoj)le;  was  often  lieanl  in  prayer, 
and  we  liave  hope  at  least  that  lie  died  a  hum  Me,  j)eni- 
tent  seeker  of  tlie  Savior,  and  he  never  turns  any  sudi 
away.  I  regretted  then,  and  have  all  my  life,  and  d<» 
now,  that  I  did  not  liilior  niori'  faithfully  with  liim; 
that  I  did  not  tell  him  more  ahout  the  Savior,  and 
liel])  him  learn  lu>w  t<>helieveon  Him,  and  flaim  Him 
a<  his  present  Savior. 

We  cannot  he  too  importunate  with  our  frien<i>. 
Anv  one  reasoniiii' according  to  the  natural  heart  would 
say,  "my  cup  was  full."  Yes,  it  was  full,  hut  it  was 
mixed  liy  a  skillful  liand,  lie  who  doeth  all  things 
well,  and  it  was  sanctitied  to  my  j)resent  and  future 
good.  But  the  Lord  still  spared  my  dear  mother  to 
me.  and  how  dearly  I  loved  her;  what  sweet  counsel 
we  lield  tocjether.  After  the  death  of  mv  hrother  she 
came  to  live  with  me  again,  ]>ut  hefore  I  recovered  so 
as  to  take  care  of  her,  she  was  taken  sick — very  sick — 
but  the  Lord,  in  his  mercy,  restored  us  both,  so  that 
we  were  both  aide  to  ride  out  and  visit  our  friends 
and  attend  puldic  service. 

There  was  a  funeral  about  the  latter  part  of  Janu- 
ary that  we  were  very  much  interesteil  in,  and  we 
attended,  although  it  was  a  very  unpleasant  day,  and 
from  this  exposure  my  m<jther  c(»ntracted  a  cold,  and 
was  violently  attacked  with  i)leurisy.  The  l>est  metli- 
cal  aid  was  obtained  and  everything  done  to  arrest  the 
disease,  hut  to  no  ]»urp<»se.  IJut  (J!  how  loving,  kind 
and  j>atient  she  was  under  the  severe  sutTering  she 
endured,  and  liow  thankful  f<»r  i-vrry  kindness  she 
received;   how  sul»missive  to   her    Heavenly    Father'u 


62  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

will.  "  Come  life  or  death,  I  am  prepared,- '  was  the 
feelings  she  expressed.  She  had  but  one  wish  to  live 
a  little  longer,  and  that  was,  that  she  might  see  my 
hnsband,  who  had  gone  to  Xew  Orleans,  and  whose 
return  was  anticipated  every  moment.  She  would 
often  say,  ''I  hope  Dr.  Eoe  will  arri^'e  to-day."  But 
she  was  not  permitted  to  enjoy  this  pri^dlege.  She 
died  in  great  peace  on  the  7th  of  Feljruary,  IS'24:. 

Thus  I  lost  my  darling  l)ahe,  my  dear  brother,  and 
now  my  sainted  mother,  in  less  than  seven  months 
time,  and  my  father  and  a  dear  sister  a  year  previous. 
My  husband  being  absent  at  this  time  was  a  source  of 
great  grief  to  me,  but  I  felt  while  I  stood  by  the  bed- 
side of  a  d^^ng  mother,  that  the  grace  of  God  sus- 
tained me. 

Wliile  her  hand  clasped  mine  with  a  gentle 
pressure,  and  her  splendid  blue  eyes,  beautiful  in 
death,  were  turned  upward,  and  a  sweet  smile  rested 
un  her  features,  'twas  then  I  truly  realized  'tis  religion 
that  does  supply  solid  comfort  when  we  die.  Then  I 
felt  that  my  Heavenly  Parent  had  chastened  me  thus, 
that  I  might  learn  to  love  Him  more  and  serve  Him 
better.  This  trial  was  sanctitiedto  my  good;  it  taught 
me  the  happy  grace  of  trusting  God  for  present  grace 
and  future  good,  and  I  was  enabled  to  say  truly,  ''Tliy 
will  be  done." 

Mv  husband  arrived  iust  as  we  were  returnincr  fi-om 
the  cemetery.  I  was  truly  thankful  for  this  mercy  in 
the  deep  affliction  I  was  passing  through.  He  exhort- 
ed me  to  trust  on  Him  '*who  doeth  all  thino^s  well,'^ 
saying,  ''Mother  had  gone  to  that  rest  prepared  for 
those  that  love  and  serve  the  Lord,  and  if  we  were 


KUoNTIKIi    I.IKK.  ♦'.!^ 

faithful  tu  duty  aii«l  followed  \wv  i'.\aiiij»k',  we  sliuuld 
onv  day  enjoy  that  rest  witli   her." 

That  cousin,  spoken  of  in  a  fornitT  chapttT.  who 
tried  to  divert  niv  niin<l  from  the  suhieet  of  relitrion, 
was  with  us  during  niuther's  sickness.  I  said  slie  was 
amiable,  and  truly  she  was;  how  kind  and  atfectioimte 
she  was  throu^j^h  that  season  of  atiiiction,  and  how 
closely  she  criticised  our  conduct,  feelings  and  exjires- 
sions.  More  than  once  she  said  to  nie,  *'  It  is  good  to 
know  the  Lord  in  atiiiction,  I  wish  I  had  end»raced 
religion  when  I  was  young,  as  you  did/'  I  endeav(»re<l 
to  guide  her  to  the  Savior  then.  She  left  us  a  few 
days  after  the  funeral,  and  I  never  saw  her  ajrain,  but 
learned  that  in  a  long  protracted  illness,  which  closed 
her  probati«ni  here  on  earth,  that  she  inanifoted  a 
Christian  spirit,  and  1  ho])e,  ])assed  into  that  better 
world. 

Under  this  severe  trial  I  felt  sensildy  that  while  my 
Heavenly  Father  aiiiicted  with  one  hand,  he  sustaineii 
with  the  other.  I  enjoyed  constantly  a  sweet  c<»m- 
munion  with  my  Savior,  and  prayed  fervently  to  the 
Lord,  that  if  it  was  consistent  with  His  divine  will  that 
1  might  have  an  interview  with  the  departed  spirit  of 
my  dear  mother,  and  I  often  felt  that  through  my 
Savior  I  communed  with  her;  often  I  felt  as  tiiough 
she  was  permitted  to  be  a  guardian  angel  arouml  me, 
and  she  seemed  to  l>eck(jn  me  on  t(»  that  l>etter  worhl. 

One  season,  I  recollect,  it  was  a  beautiful  Sabluith 
morning,  I  was  alone  at  my  (juiet  little  home — the 
home  where  my  dear  brother  died — (it  lx»came  mine 
after  his  death) — I  was  walking  to  and  fro  JHMjeuth  a 
shade  tree  in  the  front  yard,  a  beautiful   .-pot.       I  wa** 


Q4:  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

praying,  meditating  and  enjoying  a  hope  that  some- 
time I  sliould  enjoy  a  Sabbath  that  would  never  end, 
with  my  blessed  Savior  and  those  loved  ones  who  had 
g:one  before.  Such  a  sacred  halo  was  shed  over  me  that 
my  soul,  spirit  and  body  were  all  absorbed  in  love.  I 
felt  those  words  of  the  poet  applied  so  sweetly  to  my 
heart : 

See  the  happy  spirits  waiting 

On  the  bank  beyond  the  stream, 
Sweet  responses  still  repeating, 

Jesus,  Jesus,  is  their  theme. 

Hark,  they  whisper — lo  they  call  me, 

Sister  spirit  come  away, 
Lo,  I  come,  earth  can't  retain  me. 

Hail  the  realms  of  endless  day. 

I  asked  the  Lord  to  take  me  to  that  better  world, 
that  I  might  sin  no  more,  but  I  was  reminded  that  I 
was  a  probationer,  and  that  there  were  many  duties  and 
trials  before  me,  but  I  felt  assured  that  His  grace 
would  be  sufficient  for  the  day.  And  I  have  always 
found  it  so  for  nearly  fifty  years.  ^Ylien  I  have  lived 
by  faith  on  the  Son  of  God,  I  have  ever  triumphed  over 
every  trial  and  temptation.  When  I  keep  everything 
on  the  "altar,''  and  in  the  path  of  duty,  and  can  say 
with  truth,  "Thy  will  be  done  my  Heavenly  Father," 
then  I  am  safe.     To  God  be  all  the  glory. 

I  gained  many  victories  while  I  lived  in  Kentucky, 
and  oh  I  how  many  of  the  "salt  of  the  earth"  I  was 
permitted  to  associate  with.  There  was  Bishop 
Morris,  our  Presiding  Elder  for  two  years,  fi*om  whom 
I  learned  those  beautifu,l  verses  just  mentioned,  of  his 
own   composition,  I    think.      Often   has   he   reposed 


FKONTIKi:    I.I  IK.  65 

nii<ler  our  roof.  lie  alwuvs  imparted  t«»  u>  hoine 
«j:u«)d  instriicti(»n,  with  a  ^reat  dual  <»f  inforiiuitiun, 
cheered  our  hearts  aud  strent^thene«l  our  resohitions 
tu  j)ress  oil  Ziomvard.  lie  has  loii<r  hern  sj»ared  to 
l)uikl  up  the  church  of  liis  early  choice.  May  his  last 
days  he  peaceful  and  his  death  triumphant. 

There  was  Father  Jlolliday,  iinother  veteran  of 
Kentucky — much  ^ood  has  he  done  for  the  salvation 
»»f  souls,  and  for  the  huildini^  up  (»f  the  Metliodist 
Episco})al  Church  in  Illinois — and  the  sainted  Valen- 
tine Cook,  the  nohle  Marcus  Lindsay,  the  words  that 
fell  from  their  lips  hurned  as  tliey  went  to  the  hearts  of 
their  hearers,  and  filled  them  with  the  IFoly  (yhost.  I 
say  blessed  be  the  memory  of  all  these  holy  men,  and  I 
think  it  well  that  we  should  call  to  mind  and  reflect 
upon  the  character  and  example  of  those  who  have 
laliored  so  zealously  to  build  up  and  sustain  our 
beloved  Methodism  for  the  past  century.  Who  will 
do  it  for  the  next?  Who  will  be  able  to  sustain  and 
l>reacli  its  wholesome  doctrines  from  century  to  cen- 
tury, until  the  whole  length  of  time  is  used  up  in 
bringin^:  the  whole  ship's  company  safe  in^)  the  port 
of  Zion? 

I  must  l»rini;  to  notice  here  the  humble,  thouirh 
noble,  John  Johnson,  whose  words  were  ever  j)Ower- 
ful.  Why?  the  rea<ler  may  ask.  Becau.se  he  was 
chosen  by  the  Lord  to  j>reach.  When  tirst  called  to 
the  ministry  he  could  hardly  read  a  hymn,  or  a  chap- 
ter from  the  bible,  ])ut  close  application  to  study — 
while  traveling — he,  in  the  course  of  six  or  eight  years, 
acquired  a  perfect  knowledge  of  sevenil  languagcB,  and 
became  so  n<jted  for  his  deep  i)iety,  iisefulnoss  and 


66  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

scholarly  attainments,  tliat  he  was  sought  after  hv 
nianv  who  lived  in  important  places,  such  as  Frankfurt. 
Russelsville  and  Xashville,  where  he  was  instru- 
mental in  brinofinor  many  souls  to  God,  besides  aidino: 
in  building  up  the  M.  E.  church.  Xow  with  all  honor 
to  brother  Johnson's  memory  I  will  (not  intending  to 
offend )  relate  an  incident  in  his  life.  AVhile  traveling 
the  Princeton  circuit  in  Kentucky  he  became 
acquainted  with  Miss  S.  Brooks,  an  old  Quaker's 
daughter,  who  was  converted  at  a  great  revival  under 
his  influence.*  He  thought  he  would  go  and  see  her. 
He  rode  up  to  her  father's  gate  one  evening,  took  of? 
his  saddle-bags,  a  pair  of  which  all  Methodist  preach- 
ers used  at  that  time  tt:>  carry  their  books  and  clothing 
in.  In  a  cool,  shadv  strove  was  their  cottacre,  and 
Miss  Susie  met  him  at  the  door,  took  the  portmanteau 
and  placed  it  in  the  best  room,  seated  him  politely,  and 
went  into  the  room  where  her  father  was.  "  Susie," 
said  the  venerable  old  gentleman — he  was  a  very  pious 
old  man,  if  he  was  a  Quaker — - 1  tell  thee  thou  had 
better  give  John  Johnson  his  portmanteau  and  send  him 
away,  for  thee  shall  not  marry  John  Johnson;  if  thou 
art  not  mad  send  him  away — I  tell  thee  thou  shall  not 
marry  John  Johnson  if  I  can  keep  him  away  from 
here.  Tliee  may  get  over  thy  Methodist  notions,  but 
I  tell  thee  thou  shall  not  marry  John  Johnson."  And  as 
he  stepped  toward  the  portmanteau  Susie  caught  it  up 
and  made  for  the  door,  and  John  Johnson  followed 
her.  But  in  a  few  months  they  were  married.  Susie 
made  Mr.  Johnson  a  good,  loving  Christian  wife,  and 
Mr.  Brooks  a  very  kind  father-in-law. 

Brother  Fowler  made  a  visit  to  Illinois  the  summer 


FRONTIKR    LIKK.  67 

after  my  inotlier's  death  ami  mii  liis  return  vi>ittMl  u/^. 
He  traveled  thr«>u«;h  the  niidcile  e.miities  «>f  this  state, 
MoriTJin  and  Saniranu>n  in  particular.  He  calle<l  <»n 
Father  Cartwrii^fht's  family  on  their  heautiful  farm, 
situateil  within  tifteen  miles  of  Springfield;  saiil  he 
thouf!:ht  ''Methodism  was  goin*^  to  sj)re4ul  over  tlie 
Prairie  State,"  and  advised  us,  if  we  wanted  to  make  a 
'•new  home  in  a  new  state,"  to  move  tliere  at  once, 
remarkinty  hv  wav  of  enc<)urai'ement,  that  "were  it  not 
for  his  missionary  eni^ai^ements  he  W(»uld  willin«;ly  go 
with  us,"  This  advice  ins}>ired  us  with  new  views 
and  plans  to  make  arrangements  to  move.  We  were 
now  anxious  to  l)e  on  the  way  to  our  new  home,  hut 
circumstances  would  not  admit  of  our  starting  at  once, 
and  we  were  desirous  of  making  the  journey  in  a 
<«>mfortable  manner. 

My  husband  thought  he  would  make  another  trij) 
to  New  Orleans,  notwithstanding  he  was  unsuccescful 
on  his  tirst  visit.  We  wished  to  retain  our  comfor- 
table little  home  where  we  were,  in  case  of 
Illinois  not  suiting  us,  for  it  might  l>e  possible  that 
the  climate  would  not  agree  with  my  delicate  health — 
f<»r  delicate  it  was  then.  I  had  suffered  from  numy 
attacks  of  billions  fever,  and  had  taken  so  much  blue 
mass  pills  and  calomel  that  I  had  become  a  tit  subject 
for  consuinjition,  and  many  of  my  friemls  thought  me 
a  confirmed  consumptive,  an«l  thought  I  would  not 
live  a  year  if  I  went  to  aimther  climate,  and  were  very 
much  oppose<l  to  our  moving  at  all,  l>ut  if  we  did, 
were  anxious  that  we  should  keep  our  ln>me.  Hut  Dr. 
Roe  thought  lie  would  have  a  Imme  indei)endent  of 
this  one,  and  thought  there  would  be  no  better  way  of 


68 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF 


accomplishing  tliis  than  to  go  to  Xew  Orleans  with 
his  pork,  corn,  etc.  He  therefore  went  to  work  with  a 
will,  bonglit  a  boat,  loaded  it  with  produce,  and  was 
ready  to  start  by  the  first  of  Xovenber.  AMien  he 
was  pushing  off  from  the  shore  a  gentleman  offered 
mv  husband  $2,001  >  for  his  car^co,  but  he  thoucrht  if  he 
could  only  get  into  market  in  time  he  could  do 
better,  and  expected  tu  realize  as  much  as  83.000. 
But  how  uncertain  are  the  calculations  of  man.  He 
returned  after  making  the  trip  with  barely  enough  to 
pay  expenses,  and  feeling    very  much    discouraged. 

Had  we  not  made  a  sale  of  our  cows  and  house- 
hold goods  in  the  fall,  we  would  not  have  been  able  to 
start  for  the  north.  But  we  had  suffered  so  much  on 
account  of  our  religious  \'iews  and  opposition  to 
slavery,  that  we  were  anxious  to  depart  for  a  country 
where  the  latter  was  not  tolerated,  and  where  we  could 
enjoy  our  religion  without  persecution.  As  I  was  the 
only  sister  left  near  them,  my  fi'iends  were  very  much 
opposed  to  our  leaving. 

My  oldest  brothers  were  men  of  wealth  and  inllu- 
ence,  in  a  worldly  sense.  My  sister  had  married  a 
wealthy  man,  and  moved  away  some  distance.  Her 
husband  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  and  was  a 
surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812,  at  the  close  of  which  he 
returned  home  and  practiced  medicine  and  surgery 
in  our  vicinity  with  great  success;  was  preparing  a 
farm  for  a  residence  when  he  died.  He  was  an  atheist 
in  belief  and  went  to  his  last  long  rest  in  that  faith. 
Two  years  after  his  demise  my  sister  died,  so  there  was 
but  my  two  brothers  left  in  the  country.  The  intlu- 
ence  which  the  doctor  exerted  over  mv  sister  caused 


FKoNilKK    I.IFK.  fiO 

her  tu  l)elieve  tliat  this  "Mt'tliodist  ivligi«ni,"  :i>  >ht* 
called  it,  was  all  fanaticism,  and  \v«nild  wear  (»lf  after 
awliile.  Thev  liad  some  verv  j)i<>us  servants,  who 
])rayed  verv  ferventlv  for  their  "master  ami  mistress,'' 
esj>ecially  for  my  sister;  they  could  not  hear  the  i<lea 
<»f  her  dyin»j^  as  ''Master  Henry"  did,  without  a  knowl- 
edire  of  the  Savior.  Her  health  was  j)oor,  and  we  all 
realize<l  that  she  c<mld  nt)t  lon^  survive,  ^[y  m<»ther's 
heart  was  constantly  going  out  to  GckI  for  her  salva- 
tion, and  I  used  to  even  mingle  with  the  servants  in 
their  own  little  dwelling  to  })ray  for  her;  1  would  read 
a  chapter  in  the  bible,  sing  a  liynin  and  join  in  prayer 
with  them,  and  the  Lord  blessed  us  with  the  sweet 
assurance  that  she  would  be  brought  into  His  fold, 
and  before  her  death  the  spirit  of  God  awakened  lier, 
and  she  cried  for  mercy  and  called  in  the  servants  and 
recjuested  them  to  pray  for  her.  She  also  sent 
for  Father  Heed,  that  he  might  pray  with  and  for 
her;  and  we  have  good  reason  to  Ijelieve  that  she 
was  saved,  and  I  hope  to  meet  her  in  that  better  world. 
The  elder  sister  was  powerfully  awakened,  I  Wdieve, 
in  answer  to  prayer.  Iler  husband  was  an  infidel,  and 
was  o]>posed  to  everything  like  revealed  religion;  but 
the  spirit  of  God  found  her  out  and  taught  her  that 
she  was  a  sinner,  and  also  revealed  to  her  what  she 
must  be  by  grace  to  inherit  eternal  life.  She  began 
to  inquire,  "What  shall  1  do  to  be  saved T'  There 
were  no  religious  people  with  wliom  she  could  associate, 
excei)t  i>aptists;  she  attended  their  meetings  althougli 
forbidden  to  do  so  l)y  her  husband,  and  nu»re  than 
once  npon  liis  learning  that  slie  liatl  gone  to  meeting 
did  he  send  after  her  and   had   her  brou«dit  home  and 


<U  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

treated  her  verv  unkindly:  told  lier  if  she  did  not  give 
lip  attending  those  meetings,  she  should  leave  his 
house  and  be  cut  off  from  all  communication  with  her 
children;  he  said  he  was  not  going  to  have  his  children 
"carried  of  with  their  wild  fanaticism/'  He  would 
not  allow  her  to  keep  a  bible  in  the  house  if  he  knew 
it.  She  kept  her  bible  in  the  cellar  for  months,  and 
there  read  and  prayed.  The  spirit  of  God  led  her  into 
the  light  of  His  countenance.  She  told  her  Baptist 
fi'iends  her  experience,  and  they  thought  it  proper 
that  she  be  baptised — she  felt  it  her  duty.  There  was 
a  day  appointed  on  which  she  supposed  her  husband 
would  be  absent ;  he  was  from  home  and  she  did  not 
anticipate  his  return,  but  he  came  while  she  was  in 
the  congregation.  They  were  near  a  stream  for  the 
purpose  of  administering  the  ordinance.  There  were  a 
number  of  converts  present,  and  there  was  a  good  revival 
among  them.  He  heard  what  was  going  on.  and 
taking  his  carriage  went  immediately  to  the  congre- 
gation, took  her  home  and  shut  her  up  and  subjected 
her  to  very  unkind  treatment,  and  told  her,  as  he  had 
done  on  former  occasions,  that  if  she  made  a  public 
profession  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  he  would 
discard  her  as  he  would  a  culprit,  and  debar  her  from 
any  intercourse  with  her  family.  This  he  knew  would 
be  worse  than  death  to  her — there  never  was  a  more 
devoted  mother.  For  a  time  this  deprived  her  of 
any  means  of  grace.  She  felt  anxious  to  be  baptised, 
but  she  knew  it  would  not  do  to  have  the  ordinance 
performed  publicly.  She  consulted  the  minister  and 
he  performed  the  ceremony  privately,  so  that  no  one 
knew  it  Init  his  familv  and  some  of  the  elders.      And 


FKoNTII  li    III  1..  71 

now  she  knew  she  was  u  iiitMiiher  of  the  I»aj»tist 
church.  It  wjis  a  coinfurt  tu  her,  ulthou^li  slie  had 
not  made  a  puhlic  profession  of  the  Savior.  Her  hus- 
]»and  did  not  live  \oi\<r  after  this.  He  liad  l»een  in  a 
decline  for  several  years,  and  ex})ired  suddenly.  She 
then  made  a  puhlic  profession  of  religion,  l>ecanie 
ac«|uainted  with  other  religious  ladies,  and  discoveretl 
that  she  was  a  ^[ethodist  in  ])rinciple  and  doctrine, 
and  united  with  them.  Her  family  min«;led  with  the 
Methodists  in  a  revival,  and  a  numher  of  her  children 
])rofessed  reli«^ion,  joined  the  church,  and  so  on,  one 
after  another  until  they  all  became  members  of  the 
church  with  her.  She  lived  many  years  an  acceptable 
member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  died  in  triumph  of  the 
Christian  faith,  and  has  <^one  home  to  glory. 

This  gives  me  a  new  impetus  for  the  kingdom.  I 
hope  the  Lord  will  give  me  grace  to  couipier  and  take 
me  to  rest.  All  this,  I  believe,  was  in  answer  to  a 
mother's  faithful,  fervent  j>rayer.  Courage,  pray- 
ing mothers. 

But  with  all  the  opposition  we  met  with,  we  made 
our  arrangements  and  started  for  Hlinois  almost  with- 
out money  or  scrip,  scarcely  knowing  whither  we  were 
g(»ing.  AVe  felt  a  deep  sorrow  at  parting  with  our 
classmates  and  many  dear  friends  we  had  made  tliere; 
they  expressed  the  warmest  wishes  for  our  welfare. 
Well  do  I  remember  the  feelings  manifested  when  we 
]»arted;  there  were  a  great  many  j»resent,  some  wept, 
Mth('r>  pcrsua«bMi,  many  upbraided  us  f<>r  leaving  the 
lioiiie  wlicre  1  was  born  an<l  raise<l,  to  go  to  a  new 
countiv  that  we  never  saw;  t)tlu'rs  said  we  would  n<>t 
live  out  half  <»ur  <la\s  in  >nch   a  sicklv  countrv  a>  Hli- 


72  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

nois;  not  a  few  prophesied  that  we  would  be  back  to 
onr  old  home  in  less  than  a  year,  and  the  colored 
people  were  so  grieved  at  our  leaving  that  one  said  to 
me — the  one  who  was  my  nurse — "  N^ow  indeed,  if  I 
had  a  bag  of  gold  as  big  as  my  body,  I  would  lay  it  at 
your  feet  if  you  would  stay. 

But  we  were  satisfied  that  it  was  our  duty  and  for 
our  best  interest  to  go  to  Illinois,  and  started  on  the 
eighteenth  day  of  February,  1827.  My  husband 
drove  a  two-horse  wagon,  while  I  drove  a  one-horse 
buggy  with  a  babe  in  my  arms  and  another  dear  little 
boy  two  years  old  at  my  feet.  The  Lord  had  blessed 
us  with  two  tine  healthy  boys  to  bring  with  us  to 
Illinois.  We  met  with  some  trials  on  the  way,  but 
nothing  more  than  was  reasonable  to  expect  while 
traveling  in  such  a  new  country.  We  camped  one 
night,  however,  near  a  house  where  the  people  bore 
the  appearance  of  thieves  and  outlaws.  They  would 
not  let  us  stay  in  their  house,  and  w^ere  most  unac- 
commodating; would  hardly  let  us  have  food  for  our 
horses  or  water  from  their  well.  I  had  heard  so  many 
hard  stories  of  Illinois  that  I  was  much  afi-aid  for  our 
lives,  but  through  the  mercy  of  God  the  beautiful 
morning  sun  rose  on  us  in  perfect  peace  and  safety 
and  we  went  on  our  way  rejoicing. 

We  got  along  very  Avell  until  Ave  got  within  iifty 
miles  of  Edwardsville,  when  we  had  to  take  the 
prairie.  The  frost  was  just  coming  out  of  the  ground, 
and  such  splashing  and  miring  as  we  had  in  the  black 
mud  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  none  know  but  those  who 
have  been  through  a  like  experience  in  early  times. 
The  last  day  we  traveled  my  husband  had  to  get  a 


FKONTIKH    mm:.  To 

team  uf  oxen  to  dniw  us  out  uf  tin*  uiud  thin-  iiiin- 
in  travclin«j:  ei<rlit  miles.  AVe  nnu-huled  that  it  was 
best  to  stop  and  wait  until  the  roads  dried  up.  We 
succeeded  in  «;ettin«,^  a  small  In^^  house  near  the  main 
road.  AVe  had  not  hoeu  thi-rc  hmir  until  wc  rect'iviil 
a  nunilifr  (»f  calls.  Tlic  m*\\s  had  spread  rapidlv  that 
there  was  a  family  wh«.»  had  just  arrived  fmm  Kentucky 
and  they  hastened  to  learn  something,  if  possilde,  of 
their  tdd  Kentucky  home  an<l  friends;  some  of  them 
we  liad  known  in  our  southern  home,  others  we  liad 
not,  hut  we  received  a  kind  welcome  from  all,  telling 
us  what  a  beautiful  country  they  had.  and  wliat  nij>id 
strides  Methodism  was  makiui'  throu«xh  the  country; 
what  great  revivals;  who  their  circuit  preacher  was; 
his  name  was  "  Folkes,"  and  ''Father  Thompson''  was 
their  presiding  Elder,  of  Lebanon,  and  many  interest- 
mtf  occurrences,  and  ur^ced  us  verv  much  to  renudn 
with  tliem,  at  least  call  on  them  before  leaving.  AVe 
told  them  we  thought  we  might  g<»  further  m»rth.  AVe 
were  en  route  for  Morgan  or  Sangamon.  I  had  a 
sister  liviuir  in  ^loriran  countv  who  had  a  lar;^e  familv, 
and  we  were  decided  to  make  (»ur  way  there  if  jmssible. 
The  irentleman  and  ladv  who  owned  tlie  liouse  we 
were  occujning,  called  to  encpiire  if  tliere  was  any- 
thing they  could  do  for  us.  We  toM  them  we  w«»uld 
like  to  buy  some  vegetables  and  meat.  They  said  if 
we  would  Come  and  see  them  the  next  day,  they  woidil 
give  Ufr  all  the  vegetables  we  nee«led.  an<l  sell  us  s«»me 
verv  nice  bacon.  AVe  gladly  accej»te«l  their  kind  otTer 
and  went  uj)  the  next  day,  had  a  very  pleasant  visit 
with  them,  learned  with  ])h'a>ure  how  tlie  Methodists 
were  ]irospering  and  .spreading  all  over  the  land.       In 


74  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

conversation  with  tlieni  we  learned  that  they  were 
acquainted  with  Mr.  John  Messenger,  a  brother-in-law 
to  the  husband  of  a  half  sister  of  mine,  who  lived  near 
Belleville,  the  county  seat  of  St.  Clair  county.  111.,  and 
that  we  were  not  more  than  forty-live  miles  from  their 
home,  and  he  thought  he  could  direct  us  to  a  prairie 
road  that  we  could  travel  with  our  buggy.  The 
thought  of  seeing  a  sister  whom  I  had  never  had  the 
pleasure  to  know  was  very  delightful  to  me.  The 
arrangements  were  all  made,  and  we  were  to  start  the 
following  day.  We  were  to  leave  the  double  wagon 
at  Mr.  Hunter's  until  the  roads  dried  up  a  little,  and 
then  come  and  get  it,  and  make  the  journey  to  Mor- 
gan county,  where  I  had  another  half  sister  I  had 
never  seen.  We  had  wTitten  them  we  purposed 
coming.  They  lived  seven  miles  from  Jacksonville, 
the  county  seat  of  Morgan  county,  near  Alison's 
Mound.  Every  arrangement  was  made,  and  we  were 
on  our  way  by  two  o'clock. 

We  had  not  traveled  far  when  we  were  over- 
taken by  a  very  singular  looking  old  gentle- 
man; he  was  quite  small  in  stature,  light  com- 
plexion, blue  eyes,  and  a  very  large  Roman  nose. 
He  wore  Jeans  clothes;  his  hair  was  very  white  and 
hung  in  heavy  ringlets  over  his  shoulders.  He  was 
well  mounted  on  a  noble  looking  horse.  He  rode  up 
to  my  husband — who  was  on  horseback,  myself  and 
children  being  in  the  buggy~and  accosted  him  in  a  very 
formal  manner,  and  inquired  where  we  were  from, 
where  we  were  going,  etc.,  etc.  Rather  inquisitive  I 
thought,  for  a  stranger.  I  thought  of  all  the  robbers 
and  murderers  I  had  ever  read  of  in  Illinois,  and 


KKONTIKK    l.IKK. 


l>e<:aii  to  tliiiik  our  time  was  (•(uiiiuir.  At  leii«^tli  I 
heard  him  a.sk  my  liushand  where  we  intended  t<»  stay 
tliat  night.  lie  replied  tliat  he  wished  to  go  as  far  a« 
pijssible,  in  order  that  we  miglit  reaeh  my  friends  the 
next  day.  "  My  reason  for  asking,"  said  he,  "is  this, 
if  you  go  past  my  house,  whieh  is  a  mile  ahead,  you 
will  not  find  a  house  you  can  stay  at  short  of  ten  miles. 
I  entertain  people  as  well  as  I  ean  at  my  plaee,  and  I 
think  you  had  better  stop  with  me."  AVell,  thought  I, 
that  Ijeats  all,  that  he  should  want  t<j  decoy  us  to  his 
own  house  to  do  the  deed.  I  gave  utterance  to  a  deep 
sigh,  and  my  heart  went  ])it-a-pat,  and  the  uneasiness 
I  manifested  caused  my  ]ius])and  to  rein  his  horse 
near  the  bu;^<^v  and  ask  me  if  anvthiui;  was  the 
matter.  I  then  made  some  excuse  to  st«»p  the  buggy, 
and  the  old  gentleman  rode  on.  I  said  to  my  husband, 
'*A\'liy  on  earth  d«jn't  the  old  man  go  along  al»out  his 
Inisiness;  1  l)elieve  he  Avants  to  entice  us  to  his  house 
and  rob  and  kill  us."  "  Oh  no,"  said  he,  ''  don't  think 
of  such  a  think;  I  think  he  is  a  good  old  man,  and  we 
had  better  sto])  l)y  all  means."  ''Then,"  said  I,  "we 
wont  get  the  chance,  for  I  see  him  going  down  under 
that  bridtre;  I  Ijelieve  he  intends  to  kill  us  there  in  these 
gloomy  woods."  Said  he,  "Oh,  dear  no,  I  think  the 
old  gentleman  is  all  kindness;  he  has  just  gone  down 
the  bank  to  water  his  horse."  "  Vou  will  see,"  said  I. 
"  I  hope  you  are  right,  but  j)ray  don't  sto])  until  we 
see  what  the  house  looks  like;  l)ut  I  ftar  we  shall 
never  live  to  get  over  that  bridge."  Just  then  my 
husl)and  saw  the  old  gentleman  ri<le  up  the  hill,  then 
said  he,  "1  told  yc.u  so;  all  will  be  right;  ct»me,  letV 
go  along  and  see  how   things  Innk."      '*  Well,"  ."aid  I, 


76  RECOIXBCnONS   OF 

"my  trust  is  in  the  Lord,  if  we  are  slain."  We 
crossed  the  bridge,  ascended  the  hill,  and  there 
stood  a  large,  substantial  farm  house,  surrounded  by 
shade-trees,  a  great  large  orchard  on  one  side,  and  c^inn- 
modious  bam  on  the  other,  and  the  old  gentleman  wa? 
just  riding  into  the  yard.  ^'Xow,"  said  my  husband. 
"dontyousee,  all  is  right."  "I  hope  so,"  said  I, 
"but  I  have  my  misgivings.  Eobbers  may  live  in  all 
kinds  of  style  away  up  here  in  Illinois  and  nobody 
know  it." 

My  heart  beat  double  time  as  we  drove  into  the 
yard-  We  were  met  by  a  fine  looking  old  lady  who 
spoke  kindly  to  me,  and  invited  us  to  come  into  the 
house,  which  was  as  neat  and  clean  as  a  bandbox ;  every- 
thing in  order  and  a  first  rate  supper  on  the  table, 
of  which  we  were  invited  to  partake,  and  we  did  jus- 
tice to  it;  but  all  the  time  I  was  eating,  the  thought 
was  in  my  mind  that  this  might  be  the  last  meal  we 
would  ever  eat;  they  are  kind,  but  this  may  be  done 
to  gain  our  confidence  and  keep  us  off  our  guard.  The 
old  lady  tried  to  draw  me  out  in  conversation,  but  I 
could  not  enjoy  it.  As  night  came  on,  a  number  of 
rough  looking  men  came  into  the  sitting  room  while 
the  old  lady  was  busy  about  her  cares.  I  was  left 
to  my  own  meditations  when  these  men  came  in. 
'Now,  thought  I,  they  are  to  help  do  the  deed.  While 
thus  ruminating,  the  old  lady  placed  a  candle  on  the 
stand  and  invited  me  into  the  room.  On  the  stand  I 
discovered  a  bible;  I  was  thankful  to  see  it,  but  the 
thought  came  into  my  mind,  robbers  may  keep  a 
bible  for  a  disguise.  Just  then  the  old  gentleman  arose 
and   stepped  up  to  the  stand,  opened  the  bible  and 


FRONTIER    LIFK. 


remarked,  '^  I  suppose  it  is  so  dark  and  muddy  tliat  there 
will  nut  be  many  out  tu-uight."  He  read  a  chapter, 
and  we  all  united  in  singing  a  hymn,  after  whicli  the 
old  gentleman  led  in  i)rayer.  Befure  lie  was  lialf 
through,  my  face  was  bathed  in  tears,  and  l>eseeching 
the  Lord  to  forgive  me  the  thoughts  of  my  heart. 
Another  led  in  prayer,  and  another,  until  they  had  all 
offered  a  prayer.  We  had  an  old-fashiuneil  Metho- 
dist prayer-meeting,  and  realized  that  prayer  is  ap- 
pointed to  convey  the  blessings  God  designs  to  give. 

x\fter  the  meeting  every  barrier  was  removed,  and 
what  a  change  in  my  feelings.  I  realized  that  God 
was  there,  and  that  I  was  among  his  people.  I  could 
not  rest  there;  I  felt  like  confessing  to  the  old  gentle- 
man, ]>ut  thought  it  not  best.  I  learned  a  lesson  that 
has  done  me  much  good ;  I  learned  not  to  give  way  too 
much  to  suspicion,  and  not  to  be  governed  too  much 
by  lirst  impressions. 

We  had  a  good  chat  with  the  old  folks ;  learned  that 
they,  to<:»,  were  well  acfpiainted  with  my  friends  I 
intended  to  visit,  that  they  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  who  had  helped  to  plant  ^lethodism  there,  and 
God  had  blessed  their  labors,  and  that  there  was  a 
large  society  there,  and  the  work  was  still  going  on. 
We  had  a  good  night's  rest,  a  choice  breakfast,  and 
found  it  rather  a  hard  task  to  take  our  leave  of  them. 
The  old  gentleman  was  a  vetenin,  and  th*'  '>M  l»dv 
a  mother  in  Israel. 

They  gave  us  some  instruction  about  the  road,  and 
with  difficulty  we  prevailed  on  them  to  accept  a  small 
remuneration  for  the  trouble  they  had  l)een  to,  and  we 
bid  father  and  mother  Planter  farewell.      We  have 


7^  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

never  seen  them  since,  but  I  hope  to  meet  them  in 
glory,  where  all  are  free  from  imperfection. 

We  had  a  very  rough  ride  over  a  large  prairie.  The 
frost  was  still  in  the  roots  of  the  grass  so  that  it  hore 
us  up.  AVe  saw  numerous  droves  of  deer  that 
seemed  to  have  an  undisputed  right  to  gambol  over 
the  level  prairie,  the  heritage  their  Maker  had  given 
them,  witliout  the  fear  of  the  rifle.  We  passed  over 
the  prairie,  entered  a  strip  of  timber,  and  came  out  at 
that  beautiful  Methodist  village,  Lebanon,  so  famed 
for  its  literarv  privileges.  It  had  but  just  got  started 
in  its  useful  career.  How  many  young  men  have 
grown  np  there  under  the  sacred  influence  of  its 
sanctified  literature,  and  gone  out  to  bless  the  world, 
eternity  will  only  reveal. 

We  went  on  with  only  a  passing  view  of  the  siir- 
roundino:s;  sufiice  it  to  say  that  it  was  beautiful,  and 
2:ave  credit  to  the  church  and  the  community  that  sus- 
tained  it  in  that  early  day.  I  hope  it  may  share 
liberally  in  the  centennial  offerings.  God  bless  the 
institution  and  water  it  with  Thy  grace. 

At  eleven  o'clock  next  day  we  arrived  safely  at  my 
brother-in-law's,  Mr.  John  Messenger,  a  few  miles 
from  Belleville,  to  the  great  joy  and  surprise  of  my 
sister  and  family.  We  had  a  pleasant  visit ;  found  sister 
a  warm-hearted  Baptist.  Xone  of  the  other  members 
of  the  family  were  religiously  inclined,  but  j^ossessed 
of  merit,  and  were  industrious  and  intelligent.  We 
spent  a  number  of  days  with  them,  attended  Methodist 
meeting  with  them,  where  there  was  a  large  society  of 
excellent  members,  and  the  Lord  was  still  carrying  on 
His  work,  and  there  was  a  spit  of  perseverance  among 


FK(>NTIKK    I.IKK.  79 

tlifiii.  1  visittMl  \lv\ .  I'Mwanlft'  fuinily  at  Ili'lloville,  a 
nice  little  villji«;e.  Then  I  eulledoii  u  iiuinlaT  of  their 
.^^etho(.list  iiei»^lilM(rs,  jiikI  a  nuniher  of  them  eaniKJ  at 
my  lister's,  and  iir^^ed  us  to  t>.toj)  with  them.  Oh  I 
what  a  warm-hearted  hrotherly  love  there  was  among 
the  Methodists  at  that  early  day;  it  was  eiiou«^li  U) 
know  you  were  a  ^lethodist,  and  you  were  weh'ome  to 
all  their  hospitalities,  their  symj»athy  an<I  their  pray- 
ers. But  we  thouijjht  we  must  see  Mnr^rJin  county 
he  fore  we  settled  down. 

AVe  lost  one  of  our  horses  while  there,  an<l  we  did 
not  see  how  we  could  ])ursue  our  journey.  AVe  felt 
that  we  were  in  the  ])atliway  of  <luty  and  the  Loni 
would  j>rovide  for  us,  and  He  did.  One  of  the  neigh- 
bors offered  to  go,  as  he  wished  to  visit  his  aunt  in 
^forpin  county.  One  of  my  nieces  offere<l  her  horse, 
and  Charley  said,  "Uncle,  it  is  all  right,  when  y«»u  are' 
leady  I  will  accompany  you."  I  truly  felt,  '-The  Lord 
is  my  sliej>herd,  I  shall  not  want." 

AVe  prosecuted  our  journey,  and  arrived  safely  at 
my  sister's,  Mrs.  Cadwell.  She  was  the  widow  of  Dr. 
(^adwell,  of  early  memory,  of  ^lorgan  county.  I  think 
he  was  one  of  the  first  j)hysicians  that  settled  in  that 
county.  He  died  the  summer  Ijefore  we  arrived,  witli 
a  disease  that  j)revailed  there,  which  wa.s  very  much 
like  the  cholera.  He  was  an  excellent  j)hysician,  and 
had  a  very  large  practice  through  that  country  around 
him.  More  than  once  he  was  elected  to  the  I^egisla- 
ture,  and  gave  the  casting  vote  that  settled  the  slavery 
question  in  Illinois.  He  was  rather  ske])tical  in  early  life 
on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  <|uite  indifferent,  until  a 
few  vears  before  his  <leath,  when  he  l>ecame  deeply 


so  RECX>LIJE)CnOXS   OF 

impressed  with  the  importance  if  religion  and  the 
interest*  of  his  sonl,  sought  and  found  the  ^*  pearl  of  great 
priee,^'  and  died  ingreat  peace.  A  few  years  previous  his 
oldest  daughter  professed  religion  and  joined  the 
Methodist  church,  for  which  her  parents  almost  dis  - 
owned  her;  they  said  they  did  not  want  that  fanaticism 
in  their  family,  bnt  soon  after  this  she  married  a  class- 
leader  by  the  name  of  Charles  HarriL  He  was  a 
fsdthfnl  steward  of  the  canse  of  Grod,  and  with  her 
heh'  '¥A  mnch  to  plant  and  sustain  Methodism  in 
M : :  _  -  onty.  Her  next  oldest  sister  would  visit 
her,  aithou^  mnch  against  the  wishes  of  her  parents, 
and  she  soon  became  a  Methodist^  too,  and  married  a 
very  fine  gentleman  by  the  name  of  "William  King, 
a  Methodist  of  the  real  old  stamp  from  England. 
They,  too,  were  very  useful  in  sustaining  Methodism 
in  that  new  country;  they  were  wealthy,  and  spared 
neither  time  nor  money  to  promote  the  canse  of  Grod 
and  the  good  of  souls. 

They  gave  us  a  hearty  welcome,  and  said  they  hoped 
we  would  enjoy  all  we  had  anticipated  in  the  society 
of  the  Methodists  in  Illinois.  Bnt  my  sister  still 
retained  her  skeptical  views,  although  very  kind  in 
her  social  relations,  and  more  than  once  she  gave  me 
to  nnderstand  that  she  wished  me  to  keep  my  religions 
views  to  myself.  She  had  several  daughters  at  home, 
and  did  not  want  them  to  be  infiueneed  by  my  relig- 
ious views.  I  cannot  sav  that  I  re«:arded  her  wishes 
on  this  subject  I  soon  learned,  to  my  great  joy,  that 
one  of  her  daughters,  the  next  to  the  oldest,  was 
under  conviction,  and  was  seeking  the  Saviour  with  a 
penitent  heart     I  encouraged  her,  telling  her  to  put 


FROXTIKU    I.IVK. 

her  trust   in  the   L«»rd  ami   Savior,  who  lia«l  <i 
save  a  sinful  world. 

It  was  not  lon»i:  after  tliis  that  the  two  oldej^t  iriris 
fonnd  the  Saviour  in  the  pardnn  of  tlieir  sins,  and  uniteii 
with  the  Methodist  chureh.  Mv  heart  was  trouhleii 
for  my  sister,  who  would  not  repent  and  seek  tlie 
Lord.  She  was  intelliijent,  strouir  in  arirunient,  and  I 
feared  to  a]>proach  her,  but  I  had  faith  in  praver.  and 
felt  tliat  my  Heavenly  Father  would  hear  and  answer 
ine  by  converting  my  sister.  Her  "Metlnxlist  chil- 
dren'' and  myself,  prayed  without  ceasing  for  her  con- 
version. We  felt  that  nothing  but  the  spirit  of  (t.kI 
could  do  tliis  work,  and  knew  by  cx}>erience  that  His 
spirit  could  change  and  soften  that  hardened  heart  of 
hers.  I  soon  thought  I  could  see  a  difference  in  her 
manner.  Wlien  I  talked  with  her  on  the  subject  of 
experimental  religion — and  once  she  replieil,  "H 
I  could  feel  the  same  as  you  tell  me  you  do,  I  might 
believe  in  religion.''  I  told  her  that  this  {)eace  was 
secured  only  by  belief,  and  to  believe,  then  she  would 
receive  joy,  and  faith,  through  which  we  were  saveil. 
Having  strong  faith  that  she  would  yet  l>e  l^rought 
to  the  knowledge  of  this  truth,  I  left  them,  with 
tlie  promise  tliat  I  would  come  and  see  them  again. 

We  moved  to  Springlield.  now  the  Capitol  of  our 
beautiful  Prairie  State.  It  was  then  but  a  small 
vilhiire.  The  houses  were  built  of  lo^^s,  daul)eil  with 
the  black  mud  of  the  ])rairies,  there  being  but  three 
frame  houses  in  the  ]>lace.  The  CVairt  House  was 
built  of  an  inferior  (piality  i»f  brick. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  lirst  class-meeting  we  atten- 
.ded  at  Springfield.     When  «.air   names   were  reoonled 


82  KECULLKCTIONS    OF 

un  the  class-book,  the  numher  of  names  thereon  was. 
forty-two.  Brother  Joseph  Tartington  was  minister 
in  charge,  and  Father  Cart\\Tight  was  Presiding  Elder. 
Services  were  held  in  the  Conrt  House  twice  a  month. 
The  class  met  at  private  houses,  and  weekly  prayer- 
meetings  were  also  held.  Our  excellent  local  minister, 
John  Kirkpatrick,  called  on  us  a  few  days  after  our 
arrival,  and  told  us  where  to  find  the  class-meeting. 
It  met  in  a  little  log  cahin,  and  we  found  there  a  large 
class  of  warm-hearted  brothers  and  sisters,  who  wel- 
comed us  to  their  circle.  We  found  that  the  Master 
was  in  the  midst  thereof,  and  we  were  made  to  rejoice 
in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality,  and  realized  that 
we  were  in  our  Father's  house  and  among  His  chil- 
dren, although  we  had  never  before  met  with  any  of 
them  excej^t  Brother  Kirkpatrick.  There  we  learned 
that  Brother  Cartwright  was  going  to  have  a  quarterly 
meeting  in  the  Court  House  two  weeks  from  that 
time.  My  heart  rejoiced  at  this  news,  for  I  should 
then  see  one  whom  I  had  known  in  days  gone  by — 
whom  I  loved  and  revered  and  claimed  as  a  sj^iritual 
father.  I  could  trace  the  influence  of  the  spirit  of 
God  on  my  heart  at  seasons  ever  since  he  administered 
the  ordinance  of  baptism  upon  me  and  said  "  God 
bless  the  child."  To  think  of  seeing  such  a  friend 
there  in  a  strange  land,  where  I  knew  no  one,  was 
calculated  to  insj^ire  a  great  anticipation;  and  it  did, 
I  assure  you.  I  counted  the  days,  the  hours,  and 
almost  the  moments  as  they  passed.  About  a  week 
previous  to  the  quarterly  meeting  I  was  sitting  at  the 
door  of  our  little  cabin,  which  was  situated  on  a  street 
which  is  now  one  of  the  main   streets  of  the  capital 


KUnNTIKli    IJKK.  S3 

of  (»ur  nol)le  Stati*.  I  was  tliiiikiiii,^  »»f  the  tiinu  wlieii 
when  I  should  sec  this  fiiciHl,  aii<l  I  saw  a  «;i«;  \ni6A 
the  door  with  a  load  (►f  wool  lasheil  to  the  hack  of  it, 
and  I  very  rea<lily  ree«)«;nized  Ids  venerahle  featuren. 
I  arose  to  my  feet,  ela})])ed  my  hands  and  cried  out  to 
a  youn^  lady  who  sat  with  me  (a  Miss  D(d)hins  wlio 
liad  came  to  the  country  with  us)  "There  is  Father 
Cartwright,  it  is,  it  is;  how  can  1  let  him  pass  antl  not 
speak  to  him  I  "  "Arc  you  sure  it  is  lie?''  said  she. 
*' I  am,"  said  1.  "Well,  then."  remarked  my  cum- 
pani«>n,  "sit  down  an<l  write  him  a  note,  invitimr  him 
to  call,  and  send  it  tn  Mr.  Stiles,  the  propriet(»r  of  the 
cardini;  machine,  and  he  will  «;ive  it  to  the  ehler,  for  I 
know  he  is  goin«r  up  there  to  i^t-'t  his  wool  carded,  ami 
I  will  take  it." 

AVe  had  hecame  a  little  ac<|uainted  with  Mr.  .^t lies' 
family — it  was  only  a  ])l<>ck  from  our  door.  1  seated 
myself  to  i)en  the  note,  hut  hearin*;  the  rattle  of 
wheels,  I  looked  ujj  and  saw  that  he  was  jiassin*^ 
^wiftly  by,  and  I  called  out,  "Father  Cartwritrht I"  at 
which  he  reined  uj»  his  horse  at  the  fence  whei-e  1 
stood — I  did  not  wait  to  go  the  gate.  He  niised  his 
hat  very  i>olitely,  and  said,  "  IIow  do  you  do.  Madam  C^ 
1  said,  '•  Father  Cart  wight,  don't  you  know  mei!"  **  In- 
deed, Madam,  your  countenance  looks  very  familiar, 
hut  you  have  the  advantage  of  me,  1  cannot  call  you 
hy  name."  "I  do  not  wonder,"  said  1,  "a  few  years 
has  made  a  great  change  in  my  ap])eanince,  hut  can 
you  not  recognize  in  me  Elizaheth  Ann  Lyon?" 
"Ah,  1  do,  I  <loI"  said  he,  and  jumping  frc»m  his  gig, 
he  clas})ed  my  hand,  .-aying.  "  I  am  hapjn*  to  meet  you 
in  Illinois  I  hoi»e  you   ari'  well."       "I   thank  y«»u.   I 


84  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

am,  and  verv  iiiucli  rejoiced  to  see  von.  Do  come  in 
and  have  some  dinner  with  ns,  wont  yon?''  '^Indeed 
I  will,  with  pleasnre.  I  am  engaged  to  Brother 
Matheny,  hnt  I  will  send  him  an  apology."  He 
hronght  his  horse  and  gig  into  the  yard.  I  sent  for 
my  hnsband,  and  we  were  soon  seated  in  the  best  room 
in  onr  little  cabin,  enjoying  an  interesting,  social  and 
religions  conversation.  We  related  many  interesting 
circnmstances  that  occurred  in  early  days  in  Ken- 
tucky; we  told  him  of  onr  conversion,  and  many 
incidents  in  relation  to  it,  and  spoke  of  onr  desire 
to  make  Illinois  our  home;  our  purpose  in  coming  to 
the  Prairie  State;  our  misfortime  in  preparing;  our 
resolve  to  make  the  journey,  if  we  did  have  to  come 
poor.  "  That  was  right,"  said  he,  "this  country  is  the 
poor  man's  retreat.  If  there  is  any  place  where  the 
poor  man  can  rise  to  influence,  wealth  and  prosperity, 
it  is  in  this  new  country.  I  am  glad  you  have  come, 
and  I  hope  you  will  enjoy  all  and  more  than  you  have 
ever  anticipated  in  social  and  religions  society  here. 
Methodism  is  taking  a  gracious  start  in  Illinois,  and 
God  is  blessing  the  Word  wherever  it  is  preached,  and 
that  is  pretty  much  all  over  the  settled  portions  of  the 
State.  We  have  a  very  promising  conference,  and  we 
are  to  have  a  quarterly  meeting  here  in  the  Court 
House  one  week  from  last  Sabbath,  and  I  will  bring 
Mrs.  Cartwright  to  see  you  then — no  j^reventing 
providence." 

We  told  him  we  had  heard  Brother  Tartington 
preach,  and  had  been  to  class,  and  liked  the  appearance 
of  our  surroundings  very  much.  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "we 
have  some  noble  veterans  here,  and  their  motto  is: 


KKoMIKK    I.IKK.  "^^ 

*True  to  ^[etlnMlism.-  AVe  are  ^nintr  t<i  Imve  tiovenil 
caiiij)  meetiui^s  tliis  sinniiRT  at  <lifTtM*L*iit  points  in  the 
district, "  i^then  enil»racin«j:  what  is  now  a  Conference) 
"and  I  lio})e  vou  will  atti'iid  as  many  of  them  a8 
possihle."  My  Inishand  told  liiiii  we  had  a  nice  horse 
and  Imiriry.  5ind  would  attend  all  nieetiiii^s  we  jM>s>iMy 
could,  as  we  desired  to  see  the  country  and  ^»t 
ac(|uainted  with  the  Alethodists  of  Illinois.  The 
venerahle  old  gentleman  took  dinner  with  us,  ivturned 
thanks  and  asked  God's  especial  blessin*^  upon  us,  and 
we  j»arted,  really  feeling  that  we  had  had  a  very  inter- 
estiui^  interview. 

Xhe  time  foi*  the  (piarterly  meeting  arrived,  Jind 
Brother  and  Sister  Cartwrii,dit  were  j>resent.  They 
were  our  guests,  altliough  the  husj>itidities  of  minis- 
ters, doct(jrs,  lawyers  and  judges  were  e.xtendeil  to 
tliem.  When  they  were  solicited,  their  reply  was, 
"Please  excuse  us,  we  must  stoj)  with  our  old  Ken- 
tucky friends  this  time."  AVe  were  very  thankful  for 
this  marked  i)reference  and  respect.  The  (piarterly 
meeting  cummenced  on  Satunlay,  with  jn*eaching  at 
twelve  o'clock  noon,  and  at  early  candledight.  This 
was  the  manner  of  giving  out  evening  meetings,  as 
there  were  hut  few  })eoj)le  in  Illinois  at  that  early  date 
who  had  clocks.  The  mantle  clock  was  iu»t  in  use 
then.  an«l  the  ()ld-fashi<»ned  ones  with  hmg  wotKlen 
cases  wei'e  dith<-ult  to  move,  and  were  left  W'hind. 

l>rother(  "artwright  j)reache<l  at  twelve  o'clock,  ihmjii. 
The  (juarterly  conference  occupieil  the  afternoon,  and 
Brother  Tartington  preache<l  at  candle  light,  and  tin* 
services  cl<»sed  with  a  devotional  prayermeeting.  The 
j)reaching  was   food   for   my   -oul.     I   had  not  Iiear<l 


86  EECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

Brother  Cartwriglit  preach  since  I  had  been  converted, 
except  on  this  occasion. 

Sabbath  morning  at  nine  o'clock  we  assembled  with- 
out the  tolling  of  a  bell,  in  the  upper  room  of  the 
Court  House,  to  enjoy  a  Love-feast.  The  room  was 
filled,  and  the  door  closed,  and  oh  I  what  a  precious 
hour  it  was,  as  one  after  another  arose  to  speak  of  the 
mercv  of  God;  the  love  of  a  precious  Savior  shed 
al)r<jad  in  their  hearts;  the  victories  thev  had  gained 
since  their  last  quarterly  meeting  or  love-feast,  and  of 
the  blessed  hope  of  immortality  and  eternal  life 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.  Many  shouts  of 
glory  went  up  from  hearts  that  were  filled  to  the  over- 
flowing. The  walls  of  the  court  house  fairly  rang 
with  the  melody.  The  house,  for  the  ]3i'esent  at 
least,  seemed  to  be  sacred  on  account  of  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord.  It  ap2)eared  to  me  something 
like  the  love-feast,  or  classmeeting  the  disciples 
enjoyed  when  doubting  Thomas  made  one  of  their 
number,  and  our  blessed  Savior  permitted  him  to  put 
his  finger  into  the  wounds,  and  Thomas  cried  out, 
"My  Lord,  and  my  God  I  "  I  do  not  think  there  was 
a  23erson  in  that  house  but  who  could  say,  "'  I  know 
my  Eedeemer  lives  and  intercedes  for  me;  I  shall  see 
Him  as  He  is.  Praise  the  Lord  for  the  hope  set 
before  us." 

At  eleven  o'clock  we  had  public  service  in  the  lower 
story — quite  a  large  room — and  it  was  filled,  and  every 
door  and  window  was  crowded  with  attentive  hearers. 
Father  Cartwriglit  discoursed,  and  seemed  endowed 
with  the  power  and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  of 
God.     Some  were  awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  sins, 


lU'-Miii:    111  I.  ^7 

nnd  otlieis  wore  converted.  It  was  a  tiiiif  Imi*;  tu  Ik* 
remeinlKMvd,  ami  will  In*  iviiU'inlKTed  in  <;l»»rv. 

'*AVell,"  said  I  t..  my  Imshaiid,  "if  this  is  tin*  way 
the  ^lethndists  enjoy  relii;i<»n  in  Illinois.  1  am  ^jlad 
'vve  came  here."  "So  am  I,"  sai<l  he,  "and  I  hojn*  wo 
may  enjoy  some  <;ood  ca in p- meeting's  tliis  summer. 
Brother  Cartwrii^lit  informs  me  that  there  will  l>e  one 
on  Indian  Creek,  ahont  thirty  miles  from  hen*,  in 
about  four  weeks  from  now;  wo  will  try  and  is**,  wont 
Avef".     ••Yes,"  said  I,  "if  all  is  well." 

The  time  came,  and  as  our  habe  was  unwell,  we 
thou*^ht  that  we  should  luive  to  remain  at  home  with 
it,  but  my  Imsband  and  a  numi»or  of  our  olass-nmtes 
went.  The  <i:roun(ls  were  beautiful,  and  the  water 
tixcellent,  and  oh  I  suoh  lovely  surroundings.  A  very 
lar<re  congreti:ation  was  })resent,  includin*^  many 
ministers,  and  Father  C'artwrii^dit  was  a  faithful 
Closes.  The  Spirit  of  the  L(>rd  attended  the  preaohin;!^ 
of  the  AVord,  and  it  was  borne  home  to  the  sinner's 
heart,  and  many  cried  out  :  "  ^[en  and  brethren,  wliat 
sliall  I  do  U)  be  saved  T'  They  wore  directed  to  Him 
who  lias  said,  "Come  unto  mo,  yo  who  are  weary  and 
lieavy  laden,  and  I  will  t^^ive  you  rest," 

The  8})irit  of  the  Lord  was  manifest  in  every 
sermon,  exhortation  and  prayer  meeting,  and  great 
good  was  done.  1  think  there  were  alnjut  one 
hundred  united  with  the  church  before  the  close  of  the 
mooting,  and  tho.^o  who  wont,  returned  with  clear 
and  undi>putrd  o\  i<k*nco  that  tlu'y  had  K'on  with 
Jesus  -you  C(ud<l  see  it  in  all  their  dt'j>ortmont.  My 
husband  wa^^  wondoi'fully  blessed,  and  tht-ro  soeme<l  to 
be  a  sacrod  lial«»  >un-oundinir  hini:   the  same  wa^  true 


88  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

of  Brothers  Cartwriglit,  Smith,  Corinack,  and  their 
families.  This  Spirit  diffused  and  was  strengthened 
in  onr  class,  and  we  had  a  revivlal  all  summer,  and 
Brother  Cartwright  thought  he  would  have  a  camp- 
meeting  just  after  the  close  of  the  Annual  Conference, 
wliich  was  in  session  somewhere  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  state,  and  he  thought  that  as  the  preachers 
returned  northward  fi^om  the  conference  to  their  regu- 
lar work  in  the  northern  portion,  they  would  stoj^  and 
assist  him  in  the  labors  of  the  meeting. 

A  beautiful  spot  was  selected  on  Brother  Smith's 
farm,  three  or  four  miles  from  Springheld.  The 
announcement  of  the  meeting  was  given  out,  our  camp 
built,  and  we  moved  onto  the  grounds.  The  preachers 
came  flocking  in  from  the  conference  to  the  number  of 
eight  or  ten.  The  grounds  were  well  settled  by 
Thursday,  and  a  deep  feeling  pervaded  the  congrega- 
tion. The  ministers  discoursed  with  power,  and  the 
membei'S  were  working  energetically  for  an  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  but  there  seemed  to  be  no 
especial  demonstration  of  mercy  until  Sunday  night. 
There  had  been  a  few  conversions  and  much  good 
wrought.  Still  there  were  two  young  ladies  who  had 
been  under  conviction  since  the  Indian  Creek  camp- 
meeting,  and  they  had  been  forward  at  every  prayer- 
meeting  for  prayers,  but  had  not  found  peace  up  to 
the  time  of  this  campmeeting.  One  of  these  young 
ladies  was  Miss  Sarah  Cormack,  the  daughter  of  a  local 
preacher  who  lived  in  Springlield,  and  belonged  to  our 
class,  the  other  was  a  Miss  Smith  who  came  from 
Morgan  county  witli  my  Methodist  friends,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  ITurd,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King,  who  came  up  to 


FKONTIKK    I.IFK.  ^!^ 

atteiul  the  ineetini^.      They  were  verv  much  iiitere>te«l 
in  Mij>b  Smith.     She  had  accompanied  them  tn    the 
Indian  Creek  nieetin*^,  and  was  first  awakened  there. 
(The  ^[ethodist  pe<.>}>le  th(»u«^ht  n«>thin«^(>f  goin*^  forty 
or  tifty  miles  to  a  camjjmeetin*^  those  days. )     Tliose 
young  hidies  were  ahuost  in  des})air.     They  and  a  few 
others   made  a  covenant   that  they   wouhl    })ray  and 
wrestle  all  night  until  the  Lord  should  hless  them. 
When  the  evening  came  we  went  out  to  the  wtjods. 
A  number  of  the  sisters  })rayed  tothe  Lord  in  l>ehalf  of 
these  earnest  seekers;  others  came  away  rejoicing,  hut 
these  two  seekers  were  sad,  hut  still  sought  for  mercy. 
The  horn  sounded  for  i)ul)Iic  service  at  the  stand,  and 
we  had  the  ])leasure  of  enjoying  an  excellent  sermon 
by  Brother  House,  our  new  minister,  a  very  promis- 
ing young  man.      After  this  there  was  an  exhortation 
and  a  call  for   mourners,  and   those  two  young  ladies^ 
made  their  way  to  the  altar  and  there  prostrated  them- 
selves, with  the  resolve  that  if  there  was  mercy  f«»r 
them   they   W(.>uld   struggle  until  morning  but   what 
they  obtained  the  blessing.     The  prayermeeting  pro- 
ceeded as  usual,  and  quite  a  number  were  blessed,  but 
those  young  ladies  were  mourners   still.       l>r»>thers 
Cartwright,   Cormack,  Tartington   and  my   husband, 
Sister  Kirkpatrick  and  myself  had  covenanted  to  pray 
with  and   for  them  as  long  as  they  desired   to  stay 
there.     First  one  and  then  another  pniyeil  with  thenu 
and  the  Lord  seemed  to  draw  near  and  still  nearer  Uv 
us,  and  \vhile   Sister  Kirkpatrick  was  j)raying,  mercy 
came    in    such    great  ])ower  that   we   were  all    over- 
whelmed in  an  ocean  of  love.     The  mourners  slmutetlv 
'* Glory!  glory  to  God!"     The  rest  of  us  fell  prostrate 


DO  REroLLECTIONS    OF 

on  the  ground  in  that  leafv  temple,  while  the  orb  of 
niofht  shed  its  silverv  ravs  mam  ns,  and  the  Ian- 
guage  of  each  soul  was,  ''glorv,  glory/'  It  was  then 
about  twelve  o'clock,  and  the  people  had  nearly  all 
retired  to  their  tents,  and  many  were  asleep,  but  this 
shout  roused  them,  and  they  came  to  the  stand  in 
scores,  and  as  soon  as  any  one  touched  us  l)y  shaking 
hands  they  fell  to  the  ground  and  cried  out,  -Glory! 
glorvl"  This  seemed  to  be  the  language  of  every 
soul;  many  said  they  had  never  l)eenl)lessed  so  power- 
fully l>efoi'e.  Father  Cartwright  heard  the  sound;  he 
was  in  bed,  and  said  to  his  excellent  wife,  *'  Come. 
Frankie,  let's  get  up  and  go  to  the  stand,  there  is 
something  more  than  usual  going  on  there;  Brother 
and  Sister  Roe  are  not  in  the  habit  of  making  such  a 
noise;  the  power  of  the  Lord  is  there,  I  feel  it.''  ''So 
do  I,"  said  she,  ^'  I  hope  those  dear  girls  have  been 
"blessed." 

They  made  their  way  to  where  my  husband  and  I 
were,  and  he  said  to  me,  "Sister  Hoe,  the  Lord  is 
giving  you  a  great  blessing,  as  good  measure  as 
Benjmin  got;  pressed  down  and  running  over; 
religion  is  as  good  in  Illinois  as  in  Kentucky." 
^'Yes,"  said  I,  ''I  never  had  such  a  blessing  in  Ken- 
tucky as  this,''  and  taking  hold  of  one  of  his  hands 
with  one  of  mine,  and  Sister  Cartwright  with  the 
other,  they  both  fell  prostrate  to  the  ground,  exclaiming, 
*' Glory!  glory  to  God  in  the  highest!"  Then  the 
great  backwoods  preacher  and  his  dear  wife  lay  there 
for  some  time  drinking  from  the  well  of  salvation, 
while  no  language  could  express  their  feelings,  l)ut 
•"Glorv!  o-lorv!"     Bv  this  time,  those  who  had  tirst 


FKHNTIKU     1.1  ii..  I»l 

falK'ii  imdertho  iiiHiU'iici*  «>f  tlit-  irraci<»us  shower  wvri* 
:il)K'  to  walk  altoiit  and  I'xljort.  Aiwl  <»li.  what  laiiiruair*'! 
It  certainly  was  inspired  l»y  the  ll«»ly  (ihost.  I  think 
it  was  soniethini;  like  the  Pentecostal  shower.  Kverv 
one  seemed  to  hear  and  nnderstan«l.  There  was  not 
one  well  j>erson  left  in  tlic  tents.  Saints  and  sinners 
dike  rnshed  to  the  stand,  and  sinners  were  prostrate 
ill  throngli  the  coiii^rci^ation  crvini^  for  niercv.  Manv 
new  converts  jnst  horn  into  the  Kini^nloni  were  cryinir, 

(Tlurvl  Glijrv  to  (-Jud!  For  as  far  as  the  east  is 
from  the  west,  so  far  has  the  Lord  sepjirated  mv  sins 
frcMii  me  I"  This  state  (»f  feelin*^  continned  nntil  the 
liirht  of  the  mornini,^  aj»peared  in  the  east,  when 
JJntther  Cartrwii^ht  dismissed   ns  hv  sinirinir  the  dox- 

loL^y,  an<l  we  set  ahont  ]>re}>arini^  some  refreshments 
for  the  inner  man.  IJnt  while  this  was  jroin<r  un,  the 
sonnd  of  "Gh»rv  I  "  could  he  heard  all  over  the  camp 
<^ronnd — in  the  tents,  at  the  stand,  in  the  woods  and 
aroun<l  the  tires,  while  we  were  cooking  and  setting 
tahles.  And  while  at  hreakfast,  I  saw  a  nnm]»er  st«»p 
eating  and  cry  ont  '*  (ilory  I  " 

The  s<jnnd  of  the  hoi-n  summoned  ns  to  the  stand 
to  hear  a  farewell  sermon  av  exhortation  from  Father 
Cart  Wright,  as  we  were  to  separate  soon.  I  dt»  not 
remember  whether  he  took  a  text  or  not,  l)nt  I  do 
<n<»w  that  every  word  was  clothed  with  divine  j)Ower. 
\t  the  close  of  his  remarks  he  said,  '*  I  wonder  if 
diere  is  a  sinner  left  on  the  ground  or  one  m<»nrner 
^vh(»  i>  not  converted.**     "  Ves.">aid  Ili-othei-  ( 'ormack, 

hei-e  is  one;  "  ]»ointing  to  a  yonng  man  who  stoud 
eaiiinir  against  a  tree,  and  who  had  stood  «Mit  a;^4in>t 
ill   the  sacred    inHuence   of  tin*   Indian   ('reek   camp- 


92  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

ineetinc^.  lie  was  a  vouiii^  lawver  who  tliouoht  it 
would  be  disparaging  to  his  professional  character  to 
be  a  Methodist.  I  am  o-lad  that  the  world  and  the 
church  have  outo;rown  that  kind  of  thinkino^,  for  there 
are  many  excellent  lawyers  at  this  day  who  are  devested 
Christians  and  worthy  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  had  come  up  to  this  meeting  with  two 
praying  sisters,  all  starched  up,  with  a  ruffled  shirt 
and  breast  pin,  and  imagined  he  was  cutting  quite  a 
dash  when  he  lirst  came  on  the  camp  ground.  But  he 
had  been  slic^htlv  awakened  the  nitrht  before  and  fell 
to  the  ground,  groaning  and  crying  for  mercy.  He 
had  held  out  well,  but  now  he  was  looking  sad  and 
dejected,  and  when  Brother  Cormack  pointed  at  him 
he  started  for  the  woods  with  Brother  Cormack  after 
him.  He  just  reached  the  edge  of  the  woods  when 
he  fell  prostrate  to  the  ground  and  cried  out  for 
mercy.  Brother  Cormack  prayed  with  him  a  wliile» 
and  soon  he  was  able  to  receive  the  truth  and  believed 
with  all  his  heart.  He  came  back  to  the  stand  rejoic- 
in  his  present  salvation,  being  willing  to  unite  with 
the  Methodist  Church,  as  were  many  others.  The 
meeting  closed  with  the  best  of  feeling  on  the  part  of 
all.  As  we  left  that  sacred  spot,  many,  very  many  of 
us  felt  the  sweet  assurance  that  we,  if  faithful  tu  the 
grace  already  given  us,  should  have  a  sweet  reunion 
in  our  Father's  Kino^dom  to  tro  out  no  more.  Manv 
of  those  dear  brothers  and  sisters  I  have  no  doubt 
are  shouting  in  glory:  while  some  still  linger  on  the 
shores  of  mortality,  battling  with  the  cares  of  life, 
looking  over  to  the  Promised  Land  with  the  anticipa- 
tion of  one  dav  there  enteriuir  into  rest. 


KK<»NTii:ii  i.iFi;.  03 

At  this  meetiiiii  I  tir>t  .siu  Jtrrv  Walkt-r,  tirf^t 
missicmarv  in  Cliica«ro.  lie  cheertMl  our  hearts  hy 
rehitiii«r  the  hriirht  prospects  of  the^reat  Northwestern 
missitni.  Inniiiirration  jMUirtnl  in  from  all  parts  of  the 
earth,  and  the  j>eople  were  of  the  enterpri>in^,  intelli- 
gent. reli»ri<»us  class.  AVherever  a  Methodist  family  was 
scttle<l,  there  our  ministers  would  nuike  a  standpoint, 
there  raise  the  hannerof  Emmanuel,  and  cry,  "  liehold 
the  Lamh  I  "  They  would  ]»reach  in  lo«r  cahins  and 
in  the  leafy  irroves  until  a  school  house  could  l»e  huilt, 
which  huildin^  would  serve  for  hoth  until  a  church 
could  he  erected.  The  circuit  was  enlarge<l  and  dis- 
trict after  district  was  formed;  then  una  division 
after  another  of  our  Conference  came,  an«l  the  word 
ran  and  was  gloriiied. 

AVe  moved  that  fall  to  Sprint:  Creek,  alnjut  seven 
miles  from  Springfield  There  was  no  class  formed  in 
our  immediate  neighborhood,  hut  alxjut  two  miles 
from  us,  on  the  o])j)osite  side  of  the  creek,  was  a  large 
hjg  h<»use,  owned  by  a  widow  lady — Sister  Ferivll. 
We  got  Brother  House,  the  circuit  minister,  to  make 
an  aj)])ointment  to  preach  at  Sister  Ferreli's,  and  we 
soon  had  a  class  organized,  with  my  husband  as  class 
leader.  Another  apj)ointment  at  Lick  Creek,  three 
miles  above,  resulted  in  the  formation  of  another 
small  class.  "NVlien  the  latter  class  was  fonne<i  we 
thought  l>est  to  join  it,  but  the  members  of  the  tii>t 
were  unwilling  to  spare  us  unless  my  liusband  wouhi 
remain  as  leader,  which  arrangement  was  made  and 
our  names  renuiined  on  the  books  at  Sister  FerrellV. 
Here  we  met  our  much  esteemed  brother,  James 
McKaiii.     We  did  all  in  our  jniwer  to  encourage  and 


94  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

streiifirthen  this  class.  The  lueinbers  increased  in 
grace,  although  we  had  no  revivals.  Another  class 
was  formed  four  miles  heluw  us  un  Sugar  creek,  at 
Simon  Peter's  house,  where  we  visited,  obtaining 
strentrth  and  encourac^ement.  Still  farther  down  the 
same  creek,  in  Father  Royal's  neighborhood,  where 
Father  Cartwright  held  meetings,  (Oh  I  what  a  good 
sermon  I  heard  him  preach  in  a  grove  on  "  Baptism.") 
a  iri'eat  revival  was  held.  Father  Roval  lived  here 
and  carried  on  a  pottery  shop,  and  was  also  local  min- 
ister at  that  time.  He  was  a  very  spiritual  Christian. 
We  l)ecame  intimately  acquainted,  and  found  him 
great  help  in  the  divine  life.  He  often  preached  to 
us  at  Sister  Ferrill's.  We  alsu  l)ecame  acquainted 
here  with  Brother  James  McKain,  who  was  then  our 
circuit  preacher,  and  afterwards  our  missionary  in  the 
Hock  River  Yalley.  We  formed  an  intimate  Chris- 
tian friendship  that  lasted  till  his  death. 

Al)out  three  years  after  this  we  moved  to  Island 
Grove.  Here  there  was  a  large  society,  and  we  found 
great  comfort  and  took  great  pleasuse  in  serving  the 
Lord.  This  place  was  lifteen  miles  from  Springfield. 
AYliile  living  there  we  attended  a  camp  meeting  at 
the  old  Spring  Creek  camp  ground  near  Father  Wal- 
ter's, This  meeting  was  attended  v\'ith  great  power. 
The  Lord  poured  out  His  spirit  in  a  powerful  manner." 
There  I  heard  the  lamented  Bankston  preach  a  great 
sermon  from  Job's  words,  ''  I  have  heard  of  thee  by 
the  hearino:  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eve  seeth  thee: 
wherefore  I  abhur  myself  and  repent  in  dust  and 
ashes."  Oh  I  what  a  sermon;  and  what  power 
attended  the  word.     There  were  more  than  one  hun. 


m;<».\iii:i:   i.ii  i;.  i»5 

dred  c«»iivc'r>i»>ii>  at  lliat  iiiri'tiiiir.  :iii<l  the  jh'..j»1c  went 
ln»int'  n'j«>ii'in<^  ill  llim  who  cvit  li\flli  aiicl  kef|K?tli 
tliosf  who  tru>t  Ilim.  Father ('artwri^dit  w}i>  still  uur 
".Miises."  Oh  I  what  a  haptisiii  of  the  lluly  Spirit 
he  reeei\t'<l  at  that  time.  There  we  also  hejiiiie 
ae«jiiaiiitetl  with  Ilrother  lleiirv  Sumiiiers.  Mv  hiis- 
haml  was  a  laeiiiher  of  the  tjuaj'terlv  eoiiferenee  that 
licensed  Brotlier  Summers  to  preaeli  the  (iospel.  He 
})reiiched  an  excellent  sermon  for  u>  while  on  the 
eamp  irround.  1  shall  never  for;^et  the  untirin«i; 
etforts  made  hy  the  preachers  and  their  wive.-,  and  tiie 
class  leaders  and  their  wives,  to  |>ersua<le  his  wife  to 
irive  her  consent  to  his  joininir  the  eonferenri'.  Why 
will  women  he  so  selti>h  (  Think  <tf  the  ito.mI  that 
nohle  man  ha>  d<.»ne  in  i>uil<lini^  u|»  our  Ziou,  She 
hecame  fully  con\erted  to  the  work  and  was  a  <^reat 
hel}»  to  him.  If  she  had  persisted  an«l  hindered  him 
from  joining  the  eonferenee.  who  would  ha\e  doue  the 
Work  that  he  has  done  '.  1  do  not  know  hut  he  is 
lahoring  yet. 

Time  and  (»pp(»rtunity  olferinir.  I  went  down  to 
\isit  my  sister  and  her  family  in  Mor;;an  county,  and 
attend  a  camp  nieetin*^  on  Mr.  llarriTs  farm,  still  in 
Father  Cartwri^ht's  district.  AVhen  we  arrived  at 
my  sister'>  I  thouirht  to  stop  and  stay  with  her  the 
tirst  ni«;ht,  foi-  I  had  no  i«lea  .-he  would  atteinl  the 
meetinjr  at  ni;;ht.  Ihit,  to  m\  astonisliment,  I 
learned  tliat  slie,  with  hir  whole  family  liad  movetl  on 
to  tlie  camp  i^ruund,  to  remain  until  the  do.-e  (»f  tlie 
the  meetin*^.  It  was  jpiite  late  when  we  «;t»t  to  the 
cam})  ground,  an<l  the  evening  meeting  hatl  U'gun. 
Our  friends  manife.-ted  great  joy  .»n  our  arrival,  an«l  I 


"96  REC()LLf:CTIf)NS    OF 

<ian  assure  yuu  I  felt  lia})})y  when  I  learned  from  one 
of  lier  dauo^liters  that  my  sister  was  nnder  conviction. 
Rev.  Peter  Acres  was  tliere  and  had  preached  several 
of  his  searching  sermons,  and  they  had  found  way  to 
her  heart,  and  tlie  daughters  said  to  me.  '-'Behold I 
she  ^^rayetli."  They  knew  and  were  satislied  that  she 
had  been  to  the  grove  alone,  and  that  they  had  heard 
her  praying.  "OhI"said  I,  ''girls,  we  must  pray 
without  ceasing,  and  I  do  helieve  we  shall  see  her 
safely  converted  before  the  meeting  closes.  " 

The  camp  ground  was  in  a  lovely  spot,  plenty  of 
good  water,  beautiful  shade,  and  every  convenience 
that  could  be  expected  on  a  camp  ground.  A  large 
congregation  and  some  of  the  best  preachers  of  our 
conference  were  in  attendance,  and.  everything  con- 
spired to  make  the  occasion  interesting  and  profitable. 
There  had  been  a  good  many  conversions  already. 
1&.J  sister  was  a  very  attentive  hearer,  and  we  thought 
prayerful,  although  she  had  not  ventured  in  to  the 
altar.  The  next  day,  when  they  called  for  mourners 
I  went  up  into  the  altar  and  tried  to  labor  with  the 
mourners,  and  I  was  much  blessed.  AVhile  there 
were  shouts  of  new-born  souls  all  around  me  I  began 
to  raise  my  voice  and  cry  '•  Glory  I  "  My  sister  was 
very  much  surprised  to  see  me,  as  she  expressed  it,  so 
excited.  vSlie  said,  ''Oh I  girls;  you  must  go  and  get 
her  out  of  there.  She  will  die.''  "Oh!  no;"  they 
replied,  "she  is  enjoying  herself.  We  Avould  not  dis- 
turb her  for  anything."  "  Well,"  said  she,  "  I 
wnll  go  and  get  her  out  of  there.  Where  is  Brother 
Eoe  \  I  should  think  he  would  be  crazy  about  her." 
Then  she  found  the  Doctor  and  said  to  liim,  "Are  vou 


KK<»Mn.K    I.I  I  I..  !i7 

not  Jifniiil  sister  will  kill  hiT>(.*lf  (  Whv  dnni  v..u 
go  aiul  ^ret  lier  out  of  there  T'  *•  ( )h  I  no,  sister," 
said  he.  *'  1  would  not  disturh  her  for  anything.  I 
want  lier  to  enjoy  herself.  IVrhaps  she  is  doing  sonic 
good."  '•  1  don't  think  anylMuly  ought  to  kill  them- 
selves to  do  good,"  she  replied;  *'  1  will  go  and  try  to 
get  her  out  of  there  myself."  She  made  her  wav  int«> 
the  altar  near  me  and  reaehe<l  out  her  haml  to  toueh 
me.  1  clasped  it  and  said,  "  Now.  dear  sister,  won't 
y(»u  here  and  now  give  your  heart  to  the  dear 
liedeemer,  and, let  II im  mould  it  into  His  innige." 
Just  then  she  fell,  like  a  dead  person,  on  the  ground, 
and  cried, ''  Lord,  save  me  or  I  j)erish  I  "  She  lay  for 
three  or  four  hours  in  that  situation,  and  numy  who 
came  to  look  at  her  said,  **  I  do  believe  she  is  dying.'' 
Many  of  the  preachers  came  and  ])rayed  for  her  and 
exhorted  her  to  believe  and  trust  the  Lord.  She  did 
not  sj)eak.  There  was  no  uneasiness  in  my  mind, 
however.  I  believed  the  Lord  was  doing  the  work  iu 
His  own  way.  I  sat  by  her  and  held  her  hand  in 
mine,  trying  to  exhort  her  to  believe.  **  1  Relieve,  sis- 
ter, and  the  Loi-d  will  reveal  Himself  to  you  in  the 
pardon  of  your  sins."  She  uttered  a  K>ud  groan  and 
said,  **Can  the  Lord  forgive  such  a  great  sinner  as 
ine?''  **  Yes,  yes;  sister.  It  was  for  sinners  Jesus 
died — iust  such  sinners  as  vou  and  L  Can't  vou 
]>elieve  r'  "  Ves,"  said  she,  "I  do  believe.  Dear 
Lord,  save  a  trembling  sinner: 

'  Whose  hope  still  iKJvenujj  'roimd  thy  word— 
Would  Ught  ou  some  sweet  proiume  there. 
Some  sure  support  af^aiuBt  despair.'  " 

Just  then  my  hus]>aiid   held    up  some  of  the   blessed 


98  RECOLLKCTIOXS    OF 

promises,  such  as,  *•  Come  unto  me,  ye  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest;  "  *•  Believe,  and  through  Him 
ye  shall  l)e  saved;  "  •*  Son,  or  daughter,  give  me  thy 
heart."  Just  then  her  countenance  changed  from  an 
agonizing  expression  to  that  of  cheerfulness,  and  she 
exclaimed,  ''  What  mercy,  that  God  should  forgive 
such  a  sinner  as  I.  I  do  believe,  dear  Lord.  Accept 
the  offering  of  a  broken  heart.  I  do  believe  the 
Saviour  loves  me  and  died  to  redeem  me."  Just  then 
the  light  of  joy  was  shed  abroad  in  her  heart  and  she 
expressed  herself  thus:  "The  great  transaction's  done. 
I  am  the  Lord's  and  he  is  mine  I "'  From  that  moment 
we  felt  that  she  was  saved — saved  through  faith  on 
the  Son  of  God.  Oh  I  what  joy  there  was  in  all  the 
circle  of  her  friends.  From  that  moment  she  was  a 
different  person,  so  meek  and  lowly,  and  such  a 
decided  Christian.  She  united  wi^li  the  churchy 
erected  the  altar  of  prayer  in  her  family  and 
traveled  with  her  children  on  the  way  to  Zion.  She 
passed  into  that  better  land  a  number  of  years  since. 

This  camp  meeting  was  a  great  blessing  to  many. 
There  were  many  conversions.  I  do  not  know  the 
the  exact  number  converted,  but  there  were  scores  and 
scores.  The  church  was  o^reatlv  strenc^-thened,  the 
ministers  newly  commissioned  and  the  work  still 
spread  on  and  on.  AVe  went  home  mnch  encouraged 
to  do  onr  duty  and  trust  in  a  prayer-hearing  God. 

About  this  time  Brother  Royal  came  to  our  house 
and  said  he  wanted  us  to  go  with  him  and  make  a 
new  home  in  a  new  tovm  on  the  east  side  of  the  San- 
gamon river.  He  said  the  proprietors  were  offering 
two   lots   to   each   settler.     Thev  wished   to   have    a 


ik«»mii;k  ijm;.  *"• 

Metlmdi.st  town  estal>li>lu'<l.  aiul  lie  tlinu«rljt  wu  c«>ul«l 
du  l>t*tter  as  ivi^anled  husint'ss  tliiiii  we  wei*e  then 
doiiii^.  He  wanted  my  hushaiKl  tn  ^o  and  ]>ractiee 
medieine  there.  He  had  stndied  medieine  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  wished  to  praetiee  when  he  first  came  to 
Illinois;  Imt  1  opposed  him  so  stron«^ly  that  lie  had 
not  t^iven  his  entire  attenticjii  to  the  husiness,  hut  had 
practiced  to  some  extent  amon<i:  his  nu>st  intimate 
acquaintances.  After  comini^  to  Illinois  he  adopted 
the  botanical  system  of  practice,  and  was  very  succet^s- 
ful,  but  I  could  not  think  of  his  makiui^  it  a  business 
for  the  reason  that  he  woidd  be  away  from  Imme  so 
much,  leaving  me  with  the  great  responsibility  of 
raising  our  family  of  boys,  for  we  now  had  f«»ur  and 
the  oldest  not  <|uite  eight  years  old.  I  tinally  con- 
sented to  move  to  the  new  village.  It  was  called 
Athens,  lay  in  the  east  part  of  Sangamon  county,  four 
miles  from  the  Sangamon  river.  It  was  pleasantly 
located  in  the  edge  of  a  grove,  bordering  on  a  beautiful 
prairie.  North  east  of  the  village  two  miles  there 
was  a  log  meeting  house,  and  west  of  us  twi»  miles 
there  was  another.  There  was  but  a  small  class  at 
either  of  them,  but  there  were  some  excellent  meml»ers 
in  each.  (Jne  in  the  west  class,  Father  Stringtield, 
was  an  old  veteran  in  the  service  in  Kentucky.  He 
had  traveled  mostly  in  the  upper  part  of  the  State, 
and  I  was  not  acquainte<I  with  him  there;  but  I  love 
to  think  of  our  acquaintance  with  him  in  Hlinois. 
Our  names  were  jihiced  on  the  chiss  record  at  Urother 
(or  Father)  Stringtield's.  We  move<l  into  a  house  in 
his  yard.  He  lived  on  a  farm  that  lay  near  the 
church  or  meetinir  house.     We  lived   there   until   we 


100  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

built  a  liouse  in  tlie  village,  for  there  were  no  houses 
there  except  one  dwelling  house,  one  store,  one  black- 
smith shop  and  a  horse  mill,  which  made  it  necessary 
for  us  to  build  a  house.  Brother  Eoyal  had  built  a 
stable  and  moved  into  it  before  we  got  there,  and  had 
commenced  his  liouse.  We  all  had  to  build  of  logs. 
Thev  were  near  by,  and  were  the  best  material  that 
could  be  had  for  the  purpose.  The  men  had  to  go 
six  miles  to  get  a  tree  that  would  make  clapboards  to 
cover  the  houses.  My  husband  went  eight  miles  to  a 
saw  mill  to  get  some  slabs,  such  as  they  saw  off  the 
outside  of  the  logs.  We  were  too  poor  to  afford  a 
floor  made  of  proper  boards,  they  were  so  high,  and 
cost  so  much.  We  soon  got  our  house  up,  the  floor 
<io^^^l,  the   roof  partly  on,   and   moved  in. 

Our  circuit  preacher  was  the  lamented  Asahel  Phelps. 
He  was  young  in  the  ministry  and  his  health  was 
rather  delicate.  He  had  just  recovered  fi-om  a  severe 
and  protracted  illness  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State,  and  was  just  able  to  attend  C-onference  when 
it  met,  and  they  thought  best  to  send  him  north.  He 
came  rather  reluctantly,  but  was  very  acceptable. 
He  was  a  host  on  doctrinal  points,  but  proved  a  great 
revival  preacher;  that  year  he  preached  at  both  of 
these  meeting  houses,  and  we  soon  became  acquainted 
with  and  strongly  attached  to  him.  He  appointed  a 
prayer  meeting  and  also  left  an  appointment  for 
preaching  at  our  house.  Some  one  in  the  congrega- 
tion said,  ^'  I  believe  Brother  Eoe's  house  has  not  got 
all  the  roof  on  it  yet.''  ''  Well,  said  he,  '•  Brother 
Eoe,  I  suppose  you  will  be  ready  in  time,  will  you 
not  i "     ''  Yes,'-  he  replied,  ''I  will  try  and  have  it  on 


KKo.NTIKK    I. IKK.  1"1 

by  tliJit  tiiiK',  no  ])rev(.'ntinir  l^rnvidenct*."  UmtliiT 
Itoe  wurkt'd  with  all  the  diligence  j)06sil>le,  and  the 
day  the  ])rayer  nu'etin<;  was  to  be  at  night,  lie  went 
for  the  last  h»ad  of  boards,  i^ettiii«i^  lioine  just  in  time 
t«»  nail  thcni  on.  But  lie  lacked  a  few  b<»ards,  so  that 
we  held  our  first  ])i*aver  meeting  in  a  lujuse  without 
an  entire  roof.  The  house  was  full,  aiul  we  had  a  real 
old-fashioned  shouting  })rayer  meeting.  And  that 
was  the  commencement  (►f  one  of  the  best  revivals  I 
ever  enjoyed.  Brother  Phelps  preached  in  the  power 
and  demonstration  of  the  s])irit;  Brother  Royal  had 
great  liberty  in  preaching  the  word;  l^rother  String- 
field  preached  alternately  with  Brother  Maclemore,  and 
the  licuise  was  repeatedly  tilled  with  })eo})le.  The  Ljrd 
blessed  the  word,  and  it  was  carried  home  to  the  hearts 
of  sinners.  Many  flocked  to  the  Saviour,  sought  for 
}»ar<lon,  and  found  peace  in  believing. 

AVe  lijid  })reaching  every  Sabbath  at  the  churches, 
and  at  our  house  in  the  village  in  the  evening.  The 
spirit  of  the  Lord  attended  the  word,  and  it  proved 
thej)owerof  Gud  to  the  salvation  of  many.  Therein 
that  humble  dwelling  I  have  seen  the  hoary-headed 
sinner  who  was  steej)ed  in  sin,  the  middle  aged  an<l 
the  youth,  kneeling  together,  pleading  far  redemption 
through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  heard  them 
rejoice  in  a  sin-jjardoiiing  (iod.  The  work  went  on 
and  on,  until  there  was  such  an  awakening  sjiirit  all 
through  the  country,  that  the  official  members  could 
not  get  one  night's  rest  in  the  week. 

I>rother  Catterton,  who  afterwards  became  the 
father-in-law  <»f  Brother  Phelps,  was  very  useful  in 
this  revival.      He  was  a  licensed  exhorter   and   circuit 


1<;>2  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

steward,  a  bricklayer  Ijv  trade,  and  lived  just  on  the 

edo:e   uf    the   villacre   on   a    small    farm.     (Jhl  what 

power   there   was    in   his   exhortation.     Two   of   his 

daughters    sought    and   found   the    Saviour    in   that 

revival.    The  oldest,  Charlotte,  afterward  l;)ecame  Sister 

Phelps.    The  second  one,  Eebecca,when  she  approached 

the  mourner's  bench,  had  on  a  verv  nice  bonnet,  and 

kind  Sister  Sackett  approached  her  and  was  about  to 

remove  it,  when  her  father  spoke  up,  *'  Xever  mind, 

sister,"  said  he,  '-let  the  bonnet  go.    I  can  lay  brick  and 

get  her  uk  »re.    I  had  rather  see  her  there  than  riding  in  a 

coach  and  six."    Brothers  Catterton  and  Eoyal  and  my 

husband  were  o^oinc^  ni^ht  and  dav  amonoj  the  mourn- 
er       o       o  V  O 

ers.  They  would  be  sent  for  fi-om  miles  in  the 
country,  saying.  ''Come  and  pray  with  us.  We  are 
lost  and  undone  if  we  can't  get  religion."  In  one 
instance,  where  they  were  sent  for,  a  man  and  his 
wife  were  converted  l:»efore  they  got  there,  and  were 
shouting  and  happy;  so  they  had  nothing  to  do  Ijut 
rejoice  with  them. 

One  day  Brother  Boyal,  my  husband  and  several  of 
the  brethren  were  talking  about  the  mercy  of  God  in 
the  salvation  of  the  people ;  how  the  work  was  spread- 
ing ;  who  was  converted  last  night ;  when  they  expected 
Brother  Phelps  and  how  much  they  needed  his  help; 
hoped  he  would  remain  with  us  during  the  next  week, 
etc.,  when  some  one  remarked,  "  Brethren,  I  love  the 
work,  but  it  will  not  bring  bread  and  l>utter." 
'*  Xever  mind,"  replied  Brother  Boyal,  '*  I  have  one 
load  of  every  kind  of  potter's  ware  left,  and  we  will 
live  while  that  lasts."  Every  kind  of  business  was 
stopped  and  the  people  stood  about  in  groups  in  the 


KlioNTIKIi    I.IFK.  1<.>3 

^tivets  uf  uiir  villiii^c  and  in  the  vards  and  houses, 
readiiiu^  tlie  Bihle  and  talkin*^  about  tlie  »i^reat  work. 
v>in^ini!:  '^'i^^  ju-ayer  could  be  lieard  from  some  direc- 
tion at  almost  any  hour  of  the  day  or  ni^ht.  We 
had  a  ]>k'asant  female  prayer  ineetin*^,  which  was  a 
Source  «»f  much  irootl,  a*nd  there  were  manv  souls  con- 
verted.  It  was  conducted  by  dear  old  Mother  Ilo«j^er6, 
wluj  was  our  leader.  She  exliorted  j)(»werfully,  aud 
t>h!  what  a  near  aj>j)roach  she  would  make  to  the 
J.ord  in  ])rayer.  It  did  seem  as  thou<;h  the  Lord 
denie<l  her  uothing  she  asked  for,  as  she  did  truly 
a>k  in  faith,  nothing  d(»ubting.  She  was  a  power  in 
that  revival,  aud  has  long  since  gone  to  the  climes  of 
glory.  ^Icthinks  there  must  have  been  some  bright 
stars  added  to  her  crown  during  tliat  revival,  ^[ost 
all  who  labored  at  that  time,  as  well  as  many  who 
were  converted,  have  gone  into  our  Father's  kingdom, 
— J)rother  Phelps,  Father  Stringiield,  Father  Made- 
more,  lirother  Shepard,  Sister  Sackett,  and  Sister 
lloyal.  Oh  I  Sister  Itoyal  was  a  host  in  that  revival, 
lilessed  be  her  memory.  It  is  right  to  think  of  the 
\enerable  dead  who  lived  and  labored  to  sustain  our 
behjved  Methodism  all  along  the  century  and  say, 
*•  Blessed  be  their  memory."  For  numy  do  claim 
them  as  the  instruments  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord  to 
bring  them  to  the  fold.  Oh  I  my  heart  kindles  with 
a  desire  to  })ass  over  the  river  and  enj(»y  that  rest. 
Ibit  all  my  time  will  I  wait  j>atiently  till  my  Lonl 
>hall  say,  ''It  is  enough;  c(une  up  higher."  And 
with  hopeful  trusting  lieart  we  nuiy  believe  who- 
ever may  live  to  see  an  hundred  years,  will  see 
Methodism    clotheil    with    that    jn.wer    there    is    in    a 


104  EECOLLECTIONS    OF 

sanctified  literature.  May  the  Lord  ever  keep  us  as  a 
Church  liumble  and  holy,  and  may  it  be  a  power  to 
tell  to  earth's  remotest  bounds  that  God  is  Love  and 
died  for  a  sinful  world.  For  He  hath  said,  '*Come 
unto  me  all  ye  ends  of  the  earth,  and  be  ye  saved." 
Bless  the  Lord,  Oh  I  my  soul,  for  a  full  and  free 
salvation. 

Brother  Cartwright  was  still  our  Elder.  He  left 
an  appointment  for  a  quarterly  meeting,  and  Brother 
Phelps  thought  it  best  to  have  a  camp  meeting  at  that 
time,  as  neither  of  our  meeting  houses  would  hold 
half  the  congregation.  He  consulted  the  stewards 
and  class  leaders,  and  Brother  Cartwright  sanctioned 
it.  The  meeting  was  located  at  Father  Stringfield's^ 
a  very  convenient  spot.  AVe  did  not  think  of  holding 
the  camp  meeting  more  than  two  weeks  before  the 
time  appointed,  but  everybody  seemed  ready  for  a 
camp  meeting,  and  when  the  time  came  we  were  there 
in  Methodist  order.  Everything  cons23ired  to  make 
the  meeting  interesting,  and  it  was.  Much  good  was 
done.  Here  I  first  ^aw  the  lamented  John  Sinclair. 
He  was  traveling  some  circuit  near,  and  so  it  was  con- 
venient for  him  to  come  and  help  Brother  Phelps, 
who  was  very  thankful  for  his  assistance.  He  was 
the  means  of  doing  much  good  there,  and  many 
souls  were  converted  and  the  church  much  blessed. 
There  was  a  great  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  If  I 
recollect  right,  it  was  the  last  night  of  the  meeting, 
after  the  meeting  closed  at  the  stand,  a  groujD  of  those 
veterans  came  to  our  tent  with  two  or  three  mourners. 
They  sang  and  prayed  with  those  mourners  until  they 
were  enabled  to  realize  bv  a  livino^  faith  that  their  sins^ 


Flio.N'IIKK    I.IKK.  !••.'> 

were  foi'iri veil  and  the  l«»\'e  of  (tckI  slie<l  \va>  aluKjul  in 
their  hearts.  •'  Ihtw  streainiii*^  inercv  flowed  to  every 
heart.''  AVell  niiirht  we  say  we  sat  together  in 
a  lieaveiily  phice,  while  His  glorious  ])resence  here 
our  earthen  vessels  till,  and  we  could  antedate  the  day 
when  we  should  meet  around  tlie  Father's  tliront'  and 
sin*^  halleluia  to  Him  who  loved  us  and  washed  us  in 
His  all-atoning  blood,  and  gave  us  His  spirit  to  hear 
witness  with  ours  that  we  were  the  children  of  (T(»d. 
Oh  I  how  we  loved  one  another;  how  we  loved  a 
Christian  ministry;  h(>w  we  loved  a  world  that  lay  in 
wickedness,  far  from  G(mI  hy  wicked  ways.  There 
were  a  good  many  of  them  there,  and  it  seemed  that 
the  preachers  and  exhorters  were  commissioned 
anew  to  cry  ''  Behold  I  behold  the  Lamb."  They  did 
so,  and  went  from  tent  to  tent  and  preached  Jesus  and 
the  remission  of  sins.  And  Oh  !  what  a  time  of  the 
outpouring  of  the  spirit  of  the  Lord.  AVhat  a 
gracious  farewell  we  had  next  morning  when  we 
parte<L  My  heart  is  imbued  with  the  same  blessed 
spirit  while  I  write.  Glory  to  God  Un-  his  redeeming 
and  sustaining  grace,  and  for  the  hope  I  have  to-day 
of  soon  meeting  those  dear  Fathers  and  Mothers,  who 
were  Fathers  and  Mothers  in  L<rael  to  me,  and  those 
dear  Hrotliers  and  Sisters  who  helped  us  to  bear  the 
standard  of  Methodism  and  unfurl  the  banner  of  free 
>alvati<jn  in  those  days. 

We  remained  in  the  village  some  time,  nearly  three 
years  I  think.  I  )uring  this  time  we  became  ac<piainted 
with  old  Father  Mitchell,  the  old  pi«»neer  minister, 
who  was  one  of  the  earliest  sUmdard  lK*arers  in 
Illinois.     There  was   a  gnicious   j)ower  attende<l    hift 


106  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

preaching.  He  held  a  two-days  meeting  in  our  vil- 
lage during  one  of  his  itinerant  tours.  I  think  he 
was  the  soundest  man  on  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity 
that  I  ever  heard  preach.  He,  too,  has  entered  into 
the  harbor  of  rest  long  since. 

Wliile  living  there  we  attended  another  camp  meet- 
meeting  at  the  ^Valters  camp  ground.  A  great  many 
of  our  classes  went  to  this  meeting,  and  there  were 
many  souls  converted  and  wonderfully  blessed.  I  say 
-classes,  for  the  three  classes  were  pretty  large.  I 
think  the  one  in  the  village  numbered  about  ninety- 
five  persons,  and  we  began  to  think  of  building  a 
-church — lonof  since  our  loo^  house  had  become  too 
small,  and  we  had  worshiped  in  a  large  school-house. 
Our  village  had  grown  very  much,  and  truly  it  was 
a  Methodist  village.  I  have  heard  Brother  Phelps 
say  he  had  ''often  stopped  when  he  had  been  walking 
out  in  the  morning  or  evening  and  listened  and  heard 
eight  or  ten  families  at  prayer  all  at  the  same  time.'' 

Here  we  became  more  acquainted  with  Brother  I. 
H.  Sinclair.  He  came  over  on  our  side  of  the  river 
to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony  for  Brother  Phelps, 
^nd  we  had  a  two  days'  meeting  appointed  on  the 
camp  ground  near  Father  Stringfield's,  and  he  preached 
in  great  power  while  there,  and  the  Word  was  like  bread 
•cast  upon  the  waters,  it  could  be  gathered  many  days 
hence. 

That  fall  we  attended  a  conference  campmeeting  at 
or  near  Jacksonville.  The  conference  was  held  in  the 
town,  and  the  campmeeting  was  conducted  as  usual, 
except  that  we  had  a  greater  number  of  preachers,  and 
of  course,  a  greater  variety  of  preaching.     There  we 


Ki:<>N  riKU   i.iiK.  107 

l)eeaiiie  iiC(iiuiiiiU'(l  with  Jolui  and  Janice  .Mitcliell, 
verv  pruinisiii*;  y<»imii'  nu'ii.  It  was  tliere  nho  that 
\vc  became  accjuainted  with  r»r<»ther  I>e^^s.  In  early 
days  Ills  hiburs  were  iiiucli  blessed  in  building  up 
Methodism  in  tlie  northern  part  of  the  State  of  lUi- 
n«»is. 

I  think  that  Uishop  Uoberts  presitled  at  the  confer- 
ence. There  was  a  i^reat  Sabbath-sch<M»l  demonstra- 
tion. On  Sunday,  all  the  schools  in  that  section  were 
invited,  and  met  at  Jacksonville,  and  marched  up  to 
the  canipirronnd  in  a  <h)nble  column.  Never  sliall  I 
foriret  what  a  beautiful  si^ht  it  was  to  see  them  march 
onto  the  cam})«rround  and  take  their  seats;  olil  I  felt 
then  that  was  the  way  to  ]>lant  Methodism  (and  I  feel 
so  now.)  AVe  had  a  very  a]>propriate  address  from 
JJrother  John  T.  ^[itchell,  and  well  do  I  recollect  how 
vouui'  he  looked;  how  icenteel  and  commandiuij:  was 
his  appearance,  and  how  his  words  burned  in  the 
liearts  of  his  hearers,  when  he  encourat^ed  us  to  look 
forward  to  the  time  when  that  army  of  Sabbath-school 
scholars  would  grow  uj*  and  take  our  places  in  the 
ranks  of  the  ^lethixlist  army,  and  battle  for  the  right. 
This  encouraged  our  hearts  to  hope  that  some  great  good 
might  result  from  our  labors  in  the  Sabbath-school  in 
our  village.  From  sixty  to  eighty  attended  regularly. 
My  husljjind  was  superintendent,  and  he  liad  a  good 
number  nf  faithful  teachers,  an«l  the  school  ])rospered 
beyond  »»ur  anticij>ati<»ns;  but  with  all  our  ]>ros]K'rity, 
we  felt,  religiouslv,  like  livini;  and  dvin;;  there 
together,  but  the  Lord  decreed  it  othei'wise,  and  we 
were  willing  to  be  UmI  by  lliin,  knowing  that  thr  path 
of  duty  is  always  the  ]>ath  of  safety. 


108  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 


CIIAPTEE   YI. 


DOCTOR  S    ADVENTURE    OX    THE    FARM. 

Tlie  TOimg  doctor  bought  a  good  deal  of  corn  one 
fall,  and  got  it  hauled  to  him  for  one  shilling  per  bushel, 
and  he  also  bought  about  one  hundred  fine  young 
shoats.  He  kept  a  trusty  man  who  took  good  care  of 
them,  and  I  had  a  few  of  my  o'^^^l.  In  tlie  spring  we 
fenced  in  a  forty-acre  lot  for  them  which  cost  over  one 
hundred  dollars,  enclosed  a  reservoir  made  by  a  buf- 
falo wallow  in  a  ravine,  and  then  made  a  dam  below  it 
for  the  hogs  to  drink  from  and  wallow  in ;  built  a  nice 
shed  for  them  to  sleep  under,  as  well  as  fur  shade ;  and 
this  cost  him  fifty  dollars  more.  He  laid  in  enough 
corn,  as  he  thought,  to  last  until  the  new  corn  would 
do  to  cut  up  and  feed  green.  He  thought  he  had  his 
plans  nicely  arranged,  pitched  his  crops,  got  in  his 
wheat,  oats,  barley  and  corn — nearly  an  hundred  acres 
of  corn  on  which  to  fatten  his  hoo^s.  The  season  was 
very  favorable;  plentiful  showers,  gentle  breezes  and 
a  rich  sunshine  brought  on  the  crops  early.  By  the 
Inth  of  Julv  the  barlev  and  wheat  were  harvested  and 


FRONTIKi:    I.IKK.  109 

in  stacks,  uiul  tlie  (»;its  iiuarlv  all  dnwn  ainl  l«»uii(l: 
corn  nicely  cultivated,  ami  well  i-an'*!,  and  nnthini; 
could  luuk  ninre  pmniisin^  than  the  whole  en»p.  They 
closed  up  the  lahors  of  the  week  Saturday  evening  all 
feeling  cheerful  and  hu})ing  to  linish  harvesting  on 
Monday. 

We  had  a  beautiful  <^arden  of  vegetables  also,  hut 
Sunday  afternoon  it  became  a  little  cloudy,  or  rather 
hazy,  so  as  to  dim  the  ])eautiful  sunshine  of  the 
morning.  Some  of  the  family  had  been  to  Crab  Orch- 
ard to  attend  meeting,  and  as  they  were  on  their  way 
home  thev  discovered  somethin*'  flvin«;  everywhere  in 
the  air,  but  they  could  not  ascertain  what  it  was.  One 
says  to  the  other,  ''See  how  thick  they  are  getting;  I 
wonder  if  it  can  be  grasshoppers?  I  fear  it  is.''  They 
seemed  to  come  nearer  and  nearer  until  they  began  to 
light  on  the  ground,  and  then  they  knew  that  it  was 
that  greatly-to-be-dreaded  scourge — grasshoppers.  We 
who  were  at  home  had  discovered  them  also,  and  they 
came  down  like  i^reat  clouds  and  settled  all  over  the 
farm  and  garden,  except  a  little  plat  where  we  had 
lettuce  and  onions,  and  on  the  ])each  trees  which  were 
not  far  from  the  house.  AVe  had  quite  a  number  of 
them,  and  they  were  loaded  with  fruit,  and  the  seeds 
were  just  hardening,  and  I  heard  pa  say  just  before 
his  death,  '*!  never  saw  such  nice  ]>each  trees  before; 
I  should  not  wonder  if  we  should,  have  fifty  bushels 
from  them  next  year."  "Oh  pa,"  said  I,  "that  is  too 
much  to  expect;  that  will  be  only  three  years  from  the 
setting.'*  "Well,"  said  he,  ''they  bear  in  this  country 
the  third  year  from  the  seed,  but  those  were  raised  in 
a  nursery  and  set  here,  and  that  will  put  them  back  a 


Hi)  EECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

year — it  will  be  three  years  next  spring  since  tliey 
were  set  out.-'  "Well,"  said  1,  "  there  are  a  few  of 
those  seeds  we  planted  come  up,  and  we  will  see  if 
thev  bear.- '  They  did  l)ring  forth  peaches  three  years 
from  the  sprouting,  nice  large  peaches,  but  few  on  a 
tree.  They  ripened  nicely,  and  the  trees  were  then 
loaded  with  fruit.  "vYe  felt  sad  to  see  those  grasshop- 
pers eating  the  fruit  right  off  the  seeds  and  leaying 
them  hano'incr  to  the  limbs.  They  ate  all  the  leayes 
off  and  deyoured  the  l)ark  of  the  small  limbs,  there 
being  hundreds  on  quite  a  small  twig. 

They  destroyed  our  sweet  corn  in  a  few  hours  the 
tirst  day,  and  still  they  came — the  earth  was  literally 
coyered  with  them,  many  being  as  large  as  a  small 
finger,  and  shaped  just  like  any  other  grasshopper. 
They  commenced  their  destructions  on  Monday — they" 
settled  down  on  the  ground  Sunday  night  and  did  not 
eat  anything — (they  do  not  eat  at  night,  but  cuddle 
up  in  a  pile  like  a  swarm  of  bees.)  Tuesday  morning 
I  saw  heaps  of  grasshoppers  as  large  as  a  wash  tub. 
Numbers  of  these  swarms  could  be  seen  all  through 
the  garden,  and  if  I  had  thought  to  haye  poured 
hot  water  on  them  I  might  haye  sayed  our  four  hun- 
dred head  of  nice  cabbage  that  was  just  heading.  But 
I  did  not  think,  and  as  a  consequence  the  cabbage  was 
destroyed.  They  ate  the  lettuce  and  beets,  but  to  my 
great  joy  they  had  not  touched  the  black  seed  onions. 
I  gathered  some  of  those  onions  for  breakfast  and 
went  in  with  great  joy  to  tell  the  doctor's  wife  that 
the  cabbage  and  onions  had  been  spared  as  yet.  She 
ran  out  to  see  if  her  plot  was  safe.  She  said,  "Ma, 
mine  are   all  right."      I  hoped  that  they  might  be 


KKoMIKK    I.IFK.  1  1  I 

tr]>arO(l,  Imt  the  'liojipers  took  tliciii  as  tlicv  made  tiicii- 
way  to  the  rorntit'ld.  lU'forc  ten  o'clock  tliciv  was 
lUit  an  onion  or  cal>l>a«^e  left — we  liad  j)lante<l  a  «xreat 
many  onions.  They  eoninienced  on  a  forty-acre  tield 
of  corn,  which  we  could  see  from  tlie  house,  about  ten 
o'clock,  and  before  night  there  was  not  an  ear  of  corn  or 
green  leaf  to  he  seen,  and  the  stalks  looked  as  though 
they  had  been  boiled.  All  was  over ;  the  potato  bugs  had 
taken  our  late  potatoes,  and  now  the  'hoppers  our 
garden,  corn  and  fruit.  I  assure  you  it  was  sad,  but 
it  was  so  all  over  the  countrv. 


^' 

W 

k 


112  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 


CHAPTEK  YII. 


REMOVAL    TO    ROCK    RIVER PROGRESS    OF    METHODISM. 

Brother  ^Ym.  Eoyal  was  recommended  by  our 
quarterly  conference  to  the  annual  conference  at  its 
session  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in 
the  fall  of  1831,  and  was  appointed  to  a  mission 
extending  over  several  counties,  embracing  the  town  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  and  the  surrounding  country. 
There  he  labored  to  plant  the  standard  of 
the  great  Eedeemer,  and  lay  the  foundation  of 
Methodism.  He  worked  in  great  suffering  and  want, 
but  his  heart  was  fired  with  zeal  for  the  salvation  of 
precious  souls  and  the  cause  of  his  Master.  Himself 
and  family  endured  hardships  as  faithful  soldiers  of 
the  cross,  and  the  Lord  abundantly  blessed  their 
labors.  Sister  Barbara  Eoyal  was  a  great  help, 
through  the  grace  of  God,  in  sustaining  her  husband 
in  the  then  arduous  duties  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 

How  many  circuits,  churches  and  charges  were  then 
a  mission?  It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  tell.  If 
some   of    those    faithful    standard-bearers,    such    as 


FKOXTIER    LIFE.  113 

Bros.  I^yal  and  Cxjulclis,  with  utliers,  were  permitted 
to  view  the  hindscape  they  would  cry  out,  "Praise  tlie 
Lord!  nothing  but  the  grace  of  God  and  our  blessed 
itineracy  could  have  done  this  great  work,  and  to  Him 
be  all  the  glory." 

Brother  Phelps  grew  rapidly  in  spiritual  life  and 
ministerial  intiuence,  and  was  soon  ordained  i)residin«»" 
<?lder,  and  was  sent  north  in  the  year  of  l832-'33. 

Brother  Maclemore,  Brother  Overstreet,  and 
Mother  Rogers  were  soon  released  from  their  service 
•and  passed  over  the  river  Jordan  in  the  sweet  assur- 
ance of  that  rest  that  awaits  the  faithful.  Mother 
Rogers  was  very  useful  at  the  Athens  revival.  She 
was  the  leader  of  our  female  prayer-meetings. 

Brother  Sacket  moved  to  Bock  river  and  settled 
near  Elkhorn  Grove,  about  twelve  or  fifteen  miles 
west  of  the  river.  There  were  but  a  very  few  families 
located  in  the  Grove  then.  There  they  labored 
faithfully  to  plant  Methodism  in  all  its  sim- 
plicity and  truth,  and  it  flourished  and  grew, 
watered  by  the  showers  of  divine  grace.  One 
revival  succeeded  another  until  there  was  a  large  class 
formed.  Dear  Father  and  Mother  Ankeny  were 
iiniont;  the  fruits  of  these  revivals,  and  have  lonir 
since  gone  home  to  receive  their  reward,  with  many 
others  whose  names  I  cannot  give. 

l>rother  Sacket  wrote  to  mv  husband,  tellin«;  him  of 
the  beautiful  country  that  was  open  for  settlement, 
and  urged  us  to  come.  Brother  Catterlin  had  soM 
liis  nice  little  farm  and  had  moved  north  and  settled 
in  Hennepin,  Putnam  county,  on  the  Hlinois  river. 
He  also  wrote  the  doctor,  urging  us  to  come.      So,  in 


114  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

tlie  fear  of  tlie  Lord,  we  left  our  home  and  friends  in 
tlie  village  with  regret,  but  felt  it  our  diitj  as  well  as 
interest  to  go,  so  we  took  oiir  departure  in  Xovember, 
1S31-,  for  Eock  river. 

AVe  had  a  family  of  live  boys,  healthy,  promising 
children,  and  felt  it  our  dutv  to  trv  and  cret  us  a 
farm,  as  we  thought  it  the  best  and  most  prudent 
place  to  rear  our  boys.  My  husband  told  me  that  if 
I  would  come  to  this  new  country  he  would  discard 
the  practice  of  medicine,  and  Avould  turn  his  attention 
to  farming.  This  pleased  me.  I  was  willing- to  endure 
any  privation  that  could  be  expected  in  moving  to  a 
new  country,  if  I  could  only  rear  my  boys  on  a 
farm. 

We  traveled  as  far  north  as  Putnam  county,  and 
there  we  met  some  friends  who  advised  us  to  stoj). 
They  informed  us  that  the  Indians  had  not,  nor  would 
not  go  until  spring,  and  perhaps  not  until  the  spring 
following,  and  that  the  few  settlers  there  had  not  raised 
more  grain  than  they  could  consume,  and  that  the  late 
settlers  had  came  there  to  buy  grain,  paying  a  high 
pricr  for  it,  and  if  we  went  on  we  would  have  to  sup- 
ply ourselves  in  the  same  way.  This  news  brought 
us  to  the  conclusion  that  we  had  better  take  their 
advice,  which  we  did,  and  remained  there  for  some 
time. 

In  December,  1835,  my  husband  came  to  Rock 
river  and  selected  a  claim,  that  being  the  mode  of 
securing  a  farm.  He  erected  a  cabin  and  returned  to 
Putnam  county  for  his  family.  We  were  almost 
ready  by  the  time  he  returned  for  us,  yet  regretted  to 
leave  our  home,  although  it  was  temporary.     We  had 


FKONTIl.i;    1.1 1  K.  I  1  r> 

fouiid  kiiul  iiei»;lil)<>r.s  and  Christian  friends,  to  whom 
we  liad  l>econie  verv  nnieh  attached — some  Methodists, 
others  Presbyterians:  the  latter  had  a  hir<j;e  church, 
and  we  often  worshij)ped  witli  tlieni. 

Brother  Phelps  had  resiirned  his  othce  as  elder,  and 
was  travelin*^  the  IIenne})in  circuit,  and  he  would 
come  to  iKir  house  and  j>reach  everv  four  weeks,  iis 
most  of  them  were  divided  into  four  week  circuits  at 
that  time.  lie  and  his  horse,  '*Tom"  hy  name,  had 
a  hard  time  of  it  traveling  through  the  mud  and 
slouichs.  We  did  not  have  much  of  a  Ciju^'re^^ation, 
hut  Brother  Pliel])s  said  he  would  come  "  if  he  had 
nnly  our  family  for  an  audience/'  And  he  did  so, 
much  to  our  comfort  and  instruction,  until  we  came  to 
Uock  river  valley. 

We  left  our  home  in  Putnam  county  in  1836,  early 
in  March.  At  the  close  of  our  first  day's  journey  we 
had  arrived  at  Ilennei)in,  and  there  we  had  a  good 
visit  with  Brother  Catterlin,  his  wife  and  interesting 
daughters  (they  had  no  sons.)  The  weather  was  very 
unpropitious  for  traveling,  as  the  frost  was  just 
comin*'  out  of  the  ''round,  and  the  ice  was  lietjinnini; 
to  break  up  in  the  streams.  But  we  were  obliged 
(through  fear  that  some  one  might  take  our  claim 
from  us  in  the  absence  of  my  husband,  as  was  often 
done)  to  proceed  on  our  journey.  The  night  we 
stopped  with  Brother  Catterlin's  family  it  rained  very 
hard,  takin;;  the  frost  out  of  the  «;round  and  s«»ftenini; 
the  ice  in  the  river  so  that  our  team  could  not  cross 
<»n  the  ice.  Brother  Catterlin  informed  us  that  there 
was  a  ferry  al)out  eight  miles  above  Hennepin,  and 
that  he  understood  the  river   was  open  up  there  an<l 


116  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

boats  running.  So  we  started  for  the  ferry,  and  got 
along  nicely  for  a  few  miles — we  were  driving  oxen, 
as  we  dared  not  start  with  horses,  it  being  so  very 
muddy,  and  there  being  no  grain  on  which  to  feed 
horses.  After  traveling  about  half  the  distance,  we 
turned  into  the  timber,  making  our  way  to  the  river. 
We  found  that  the  road  had  not  been  worked  much, 
if  any,  since  it  had  been  made,  and  the  rain  had 
washed  away  all  the  bridges,  which  were  many.  It 
seemed  as  though  w^e  crossed  a  creek,  that  wound 
through  the  Illinois  river  bottom,  at  least  five  or  six 
times,  and  had  to  build  a  bridge  at  every  crossing. 
It  took  us  till  near  sundown  to  accomplish  this. 

Brother  Catterlin  had  told  us  that  a  suspicious  set 
of  people  lived  at  the  ferry,  and  advised  us  to  drive  on 
a  few  miles  from  the  ferry  to  stop  over  night.  Well, 
there  we  were  at  the  ferry, — sundown,  and  the  w^ind 
blowing  a  tempest  of  snow  and  hail,  the  ground  freez- 
ing under  our  feet.  My  husband  called  again  and 
again  for  the  ferryman,  and  it  seemed  as  though-  some 
one  answered,  but  we  could  not  understand  anything, 
the  wind  blew  so  hard,  and  my  husband  concluded  he 
would  have  to  go  ahead  and  see  what  he  could  do. 
He  could  see  a  hut  plainly  on  the  other  side.  The  ice 
seemed  to  be  strong  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  but 
near  the  shore  it  was  broken  away,  and  the  water  was 
rushing  along  in  a  strong  current,  some  four  feet  in 
width,  between  the  ice  and  bank.  A  small  tree  had 
been  felled  by  some  one,  and  this  indicated  that  they 
had  crossed  over  to  the  ice,  and  the  doctor  was  resolved 
to  try  and  get  over.  I  begged  him  not  to  make  the 
venture,  but  instead,  build  a  tire  by  a  log  near  the 


FRONTIER    MFK.  1  IT 

roa^l  and  stay  there  all  night.  "Oil !"  said  he,  *' von 
and  tlie  children  wonld  perish  here.''  "  Yon  will 
perish,"  said  I,  ''if  yon  attempt  to  cross  that  river, 
and  if  we  ninst  perish,  let  ns  all  perish  together.'' 
Bnt  he  was  resolved  t(>  go,  and  taking  a  long  pole  in 
his  hand,  climbed  npon  the  tree.  I  cannot  describe 
my  feelings,  for  I  never  expected  to  see  him  retnrn; 
bnt  soon  he  was  safe  on  the  strcmg  ice.  ''Xow,"  he 
called  ont,  "dont  feel  nne^isy,  I  will  not  ventnre  on  the 
weak  ice,"  and  with  the  remark,  "  I  will  often  caII  ont 
'  all  right,' "  proceeded.  For  a  while  we  conld  hear 
him,  and  each  token  of  his  safety  was  received  with 
delight,  and  the  little  boys  would  smile,  while  their 
teeth  chattered  with  the  cold,  when  they  heard  their 
pa's  voice.  At  length  we  conld  hear  the  welcome 
sound  no  more,  and  we  could  not  tell  whether  he  had 
gone  down  into  the  deep  or  not,  and  perhaps  it  might 
Ije  the  storm  or  the  rushing,  roaring  water  as  it  passed 
us  that  prevented  us  from  hearing  his  voice.  Oh  I 
what  suspense  I  suffered  for  an  half  hour  or  more. 
If  ever  I  trusted  and  prayed  earnestly  it  was  then,  and 
I  felt  that  Ilis  everlasting  arm  would  sustain  me,  and 
no  harm  would  befall  us.  Pretty  soon  1  heard  him 
^ay,  "All  safe!" 

On  his  arrival  <jn  the  other  side,  the  doctor  learned 
that  the  ferry  Inid  been  opened,  but  the  ice  had  floated 
down  into  the  channel,  and  that  they  had  run  the  boat 
through  and  had  closed  it  up,  but  men  were  at  work 
half  a  mile  below  cutting  another  opening  through  the 
ice,  but  it  Would  be  impossible  for  us  to  get  across 
that  night.  "Well,"  .said  1  to  my  husbaiul,  "the  Lord 
will  take  care  of  us,  and   no  harm    will    befall   us." 


118  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

There  seemed  to  be  no  other  alternative  but  for  us  to 
remain  where  we  were,  as  we  could  never  grope  our 
way  back  over  that  miserable  road  and  shattered 
bridges,  to  a  house  six  miles  liack.  This  psalm  came 
to  my  mind,  and  it  fell  deep  into  my  heart:  "I  will 
both  lay  me  down  in  peace  and  sleep,  for  thou.  Lord, 
only  niaketh  me  to  dwell  in  safety."  So  we  concluded 
to  build  a  tire  by  the  log  and  get  supper,  and  then 
make  our  beds  in  the  wagon  and  try  and  get  warm, 
and  sleep  if  possible.  The  gale  had  passed  over,  and 
it  was  now  more  calm. 

Tlie  doctor  went  about  cutting  some  wood  from  the 
limbs  that  had  fallen  from  a  tree  near  by  with  which 
to  build  a  lire,  while  I  took  the  things  out  of  the  wagon 
to  get  supper  with. 

Just  then  a  man  aj^proached  us  in  haste,  saying, 
"  We  have  got  the  boat  over  on  this  side,  and  will  take 
you  across  the  river  yet  to-night ;  we  had  to  make  a 
landing  about  half  a  mile  below  here.''  We  hurried 
our  thino^s  too;ether  and  went  sloncr  down  the  bank  of 
the  river  about  half  a  mile,  and  there  we  fc^md  the 
boat  and  several  strong  men.  We  had  two  yoke  of 
oxen,  one  cow  and  a  dozen  small  shoats.  They  thought 
it  best  to  take  the  stock  over  first,  and  then  return  for 
myself,  the  children  and  wagon.  They  run  the  wagon 
near  enough  to  the  river  so  that  they  could,  on  their 
get  it  on  the  boat.  My  husband  and  the  two  oldest  return, 
boys  went  over  with  the  first  load  to  assist  in  getting 
the  stock  ashore.  I  was  now  alone  with  my  three 
smallest  boys,  and  wrapped  them  up  and  kept  them  as 
warm  as  I  could  in  the  wagon. 

Wliile  I  sat  there  in  the  front  of  the  watron — which 


FKOXTIKK    I.IKK.  119 

was  fixed  up  in  enii«^rant  fashion,  with  hows  and  cover — 
nieditatin*^  upon  the  goodness  of  (lod,  who  was  ahont 
to  deliver  lis  from  this  ex])osed  situation  we  were  in, 
the  little  boys  were  saying  t<^)  me,  "Ma,  we  will  soon 
be  where  there  is  a  warm  tire."  Just  then  I  looked 
down  u})oii  the  water  above  the  opening  they  had  cut 
for  the  boat  to  pass  through,  it  being  only  of  sufficient 
width  to  admit  the  craft,  using  })oles  by  sticking  them 
int(>  the  ice  to  ])ropel  it  along.  Near  the  shore  the 
ice  had  tliawed,  and  the  water  was  running.  In 
the  river  I  could  see  the  body  of  a  dead  man,  with 
his  face  just  jn-otruding  out  of  the  water,  and 
it  was  dreadfully  mangled,  and  looked  as  though  the 
ravens  had  been  i)icking  at  it.  It  was  twilight,  and 
as  I  looked  upon  this  scene,  a  cold  shudder  ran  over  uie. 
I  recalled  what  Brother  Catterlin  had  told  us,  and  his 
wcu'ds  of  warning,  to  "drive  on  a  few  miles  from  the 
ferry,  before  sto]>])ing  for  the  night."  and  the  rumor 
afloat  that  a  man  had  been  killed  at  this  place  during 
the  winter. 

At  that  moment  the  men  cried  (»ut,  "AH  safe 
over."  Thev  so<»n  came  l)ack  again,  and  with  the 
shout.  "all  aboard,"  j)ulle(l  the  wagon  onto 
the  boat.  AVe  were  soon  safely  landed  on 
the  opjMjsite  bank  of  the  river.  The  oxen  were 
soon  hitched  to  the  wagon,  and  drivfii  with  all  haste 
possil»le  u])  the  hill,  the  men  following  and  (»ften 
hallooinj;  at  the  team,  and  one  of  the  men  remarked 
with  an  oath,  ''That  woman  and  the  children  will  freeze 
to  death  before  that  team  will  get  them  to  a  house." 
"We  soon  halted  at  the  d(jor  of  a  miserable  cabin.  They 
had  l)een  kind  enough  to  build  up  a  log  heap  of  a  fire 


L 


120  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

for  US  to  get  warm  by,  and  the  woman  remarked,  with 
some  embarrassment,  "  I  should  have  had  some  supper 
for  you  had  I  anything  to  get."  "  Dear  woman,"  said 
I,  "do  not  feel  unhappy  about  that,  we  are  thankful 
for  the  comfort  affored  by  your  lire,  we  can  soon  get 
supper  for  ourselves  when  we  get  warm."  But  we  did 
not  get  very  warm,  for  there  were  cracks  all  around 
the  house  large  enough  for  a  dog  to  crawl  through. 
The  door  was  made  of  clapboards,  and  they  were  sa 
warped  and  sprung,  that  it  was  but  little  defence 
against  the  pitiless  wind.  After  awhile  we  got  a  little 
warm,  and  I  prepared  some  supper  and  made  our 
beds  on  the  floor  and  retired.  I  ha,d  sought  in  vain 
for  an  opportunity  to  tell  my  husband  what  I  had 
seen  in  the  river. 

Soon  after  our  arrival  at  the  cabin  all  the 
men  left  except  the  owner.  He  furnished  us  with 
some  cut-up  corn  with  w^hich  to  feed  our  team 
and  then  retired,  his  bed  being  near  our  own. 
After  all  wa^s  quiet  I  tried  to  tell  the  doctor  of  what  I 
had  seen  in  the  river,  and  found  that  I  had  been  over- 
heard by  the  other  occupants  of  the  house,  and  they 
seemed  to  be  uneasy,  and  were  wdiispering  to  each 
other.  I  then  told  them  all  about  it,  and  asked  them 
if  anyone  had  been  "  drowned  near  that  place."  Tliey 
said  "  Xo,"  but  thought  the  body  "might  have  floated 
down  the  river."  After  this  they  seemed  to  be  more 
restless  and  uneasy,  and  shortly  afterward  the  man  got 
up  and  went  out  to  a  hut  of  a  stable,  got  his  horse 
and  rode  away.  I  did  not  sleep  any  through  the 
entire  night,  for  I  feared  I  had  done  wrong  in 
telling  them.      I  thought  it  possible  they  might  fear 


FKONTIKK    lAVK.  1  iM 

exposure  hy  my  telliiii^  Jil»«>iit  .seeing  the  dead  body, 
aiul  this  miglit  briii^  harm  to  u.s,  and  ])erhaps  cost  us 
our  lives. 

I  learned  from  the  woman  that  the  men  had  «^(>ne  tn 
a  tavern,  as  they  called  it,  u})  at  the  usual  ferry.  1 
thought  that  her  husband  had  gone  up  there  to  let 
them  know  of  our  discovery.  I  awoke  my  husband 
and  told  him  of  my  fears,  and  when  he  learned  that 
the  man  had  actually  gone,  he  felt  a  little  alarmed, 
and  we  concluded  to  get  up  and  go  to  some  other 
place  where  we  would  feel  more  secure.  It  was  Sun- 
day morning,  and  we  thought  if  we  could  get  out  on 
the  ])rairie  we  might  find  some  church-going  people. 

AVhen  we  started  from  home  we  expected  to  cross 
the  river  at  Hennepin  and  get  to  lvn(jx's  Grove  by 
Saturday  night,  and  spend  the  Sabbath  there  with 
some  of  our  friends.  But  having  met  with  so  many 
misfortunes,  we  were  then  twenty  miles  from  there. 

We  packed  up  our  effects  on  short  notice — we  could 
not  think  of  spending  the  8a1)bath  in  that  })lace — and 
started  on  our  journey,  the  woman  directing  us  which 
way  to  go.  We  traveled  about  six  miles  in  a  north- 
westerly course  when  we  arrived  at  a  house.  AVe 
stopped  and  inquired  if  we  could  stop  there  until  the 
next  morning.  They  told  us  that  most  of  the  family 
had  gone  to  meeting,  but  gave  us  permission  to  stop 
until  they  should  return,  and  thought  it  likely  that 
we  could  stay  over  night.  We  found  the  people  of 
the  house  very  pious,  j)leasant  and  intelligent.  We 
told  them  where  we  had  put  up  the  night  before,  what 
we  had  seen,  etc.,  and  what  our  fears  were.  Tliey 
said  thev   had   everv   reason  to    l»elie\e  tliat   our   fe:ir> 


122  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

were  well  founded,  as  those  people  at  the  ferry  were  a 
shiftless,  drunken  set,  and  being  in  such  an  out-of-the- 
way  place,  they  could  carry  on  all  sorts  of  mischief 
without  being  found  out,  and  that  there  was  strong- 
suspicion  of  a  man  having  been  killed  there  in  the 
winter  for  his  money,  and  they  would  inform  the 
neighbors  and  see  if  anything  could  be  discovered  in 
regard  to  it.  They  thought  those  men  would  be  likely 
to  make  an  effort  to  recover  the  dead  body,  and  if  that 
was  acomplished  there  could  be  no  discovery  made. 
We  took  our  departure  early  the  next  morning,  and 
never  heard  anything  more  concerning  the  mystery. 
We  traveled  along  pleasantly  but  slowly,  and  night 
found  us  about  a  mile  from  Knox's  Grove,  a  beautiful 
little  grove  situated  in  Bureau  County,  and  about 
sixteen  or  eighteen  miles  from  Princeton.  As  night 
came  on  it  grew  very  cold.  There  was  a  very  little 
snow  on  the  ground,  and  it  was  frozen  enough  to  bear 
the  oxen  up,  but  they  slipped  and  slid  about  a  great 
deal.  Just  before  we  got  to  the  grove  we  had  to  cross 
a  slough  and  then  quite  a  stream.  The  oxen  went  into  the 
slough  a  short  distance,  and  then  stuck.  After  whipping 
and  coaxing  and  tugging  and  striving  and  unloading,  my 
husband  got  discouraged  and  gave  it  up.  1  said,  ''My 
husband,  let  me  take  some  corn  in  my  hand  and  go 
before  them,  I  think  they  will  certainly  pull  to  get  tc» 
it,  they  are  so  hungry."  ''Well,"  said  he,  "try  it."  I 
did  so,  and  they  pulled  it  out,  and  soon  we  were  on 
solid  ground.  But  just  beyond  us  was  the  stream.  We 
found  that  it  was  frozen  over,  and  the  oxen,  not  being 
shod,  could  not  stand  upon  it.  "Wliat  to  do  we  did 
not  know.     Finally  we  concluded  to  take  the  oxen  oif 


FKoNTIKK    I. IKK.  123 

the  toiiijue  :ui(]  tie  them  t«»  tlie  wjii^on  und  feed  them, 
and  walk  to  the  (ini\e.  ^Fy  liushand  was  a  j^ood 
skater,  and  he  took  lir>t  one  cliild  and  tlien  another, 
nntil  he  had  taken  them  all  safely  over,  and  then  he 
told  me  to  take  hold  of  his  arm  and  he  would  take 
me  over.  I  did  so,  and  we  were  soon  on  our  way. 
As  we  ai>]>roaehed  the  (iruve — it  was  lutw  <|uite  dark 
— just  across  tlie  road  lay  a  lar<^e  ])rairie  wolf.  1  had 
never  saw  one  before  although  I  had  lived  so  long  in 
the  Prairie  State.  I  was  very  much  frightened,  and 
thought  it  wouldjuni])  u])  and  come  at  ns,  but  when 
we  approached  nearer  we  found  it  to  l)e  dead,  and  then 
tlie  doctor  had  quite  a  laugh  at  me. 

AVe  found  a  house  near  by  and  enjoyed  a  good  night's 
entertainment.  Our  kind  friends  went  out  with  my 
husband  tlie  next  mon\ing  and  scattered  hay  on  the 
ice,  then  w^et  it  and  let  it  freeze,  and  thus  they  brought 
the  oxen  over  in  safety.  AVe  pursued  our  journey  and 
arrived  at  AVashington  (4 rove,  on  Kock  river,  in  what 
is  now  Ogle  county — there  was  no  county  organized 
then,  nor  for  nine  or  ten  months  afterward. 

Tlie  Indians  had  taken  their  departure  two  or  three 
weeks  previous  to  our  arrival,  and  their  tracks  were 
yet  fresh  in  the  Grove.  Our  family  made  maple 
sugar — caught  sap  in  the  troughs  the  Indians  had 
made,and  boiled  syrup  with  their  remaining  camp-fires. 
The  frames  of  their  wigwams  were  still  standing  in 
the  gnjve.  The  ma])le  trees  are  still  plenty  in  AVasli- 
ingtou  Grove,  and  1  am  astonished  that  the  people 
have  abandoned  the  use  of  them  for  making  sugar. 

At  the  time  we  arrived  there,  only  three  families 
lived  in  the  (irove — at  that  time  the  enii«;rants  settled 


124  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

ill  and  just  around  tlie  Grove  to  secure  the  timber. 
There  were  two  families  on  the  southwest  side,  and  a 
bachelor's  hall,  kept  bv  a  Mr.  Fav  just  across  the 
creek  that  runs  through  the  Grove.  There  lived 
another  family  with  a  bachelor  brother,  Hyrem  Leon- 
ard, in  the  Grove. 

Tlie  Grove  looked  delightful  to  us,  after  traveling 
over  a  prairie  of  eighteen  miles  without  seeing  a  lire. 
The  weather  was  extremely  cold,  and  we  suffered  very 
much.  Mr.  Blackmore  gave  us  a  cordial  welcome  to 
all  the  hospitality  their  little  log  cabin  afforded — six- 
teen feet  square.  The  doctor  l)oarded  with  this  kind 
familv  while  he  was  makintj:  his  claim  and  putting- 
up  the  body  of  his  house.  This  family  had  lived  near 
us  in  Putnam  county,  and  had  moved  to  Rock  river 
the  year  previous.  They  were  anxiously  looking  as  the 
time  for  our  arrival  had  expired.  The  doctor  had 
made  arrangements  with  them  for  us  to  remain  until 
he  could  make  our  house  comfortable  enough  for  u& 
to  move  into.  The  family  consisted  of  an  old  lady,  a 
widow,  one  son,  a  bachelor,  one  sister,  a  maiden  lady, 
and  another,  a  widow  with  three  children,  seven  in  all 
in  the  family.  Our  family  numbered  seven,  live  boys 
and  ourselves,  the  oldest  ten  years  and  the  youngest 
three  years.  There  we  were,  fourteen  of  us  in  a  little 
cabin  sixteen  feet  square — a  little  over  a  foot  apiece 
— with  a  lireplace  made  l)y  building  a  mud  wall 
against  one  end  of  the  house,  leaving  an  opening  at 
the  top  of  the  roof,  forming  a  funnel  on  the  top  of  the 
boards,  with  sticks  and  mud,  to  make  a  draft.  Oh', 
what  nice  log  lires  we  would  build  up,  and  I  assure  you 
the  cabin  presented  an  appearance  of  comfort,   with 


FKoNTIKK    I.IKK.  I'J.") 

our  l)i«^  fires  cm  our  broad  mud  hearth  neatly  swej)t, 
our  beds  made  up  on  our  scaffold  bedstead,  all  around 
the  log  wall  well  daubed  with  mud."  "Jack  Frost" 
dared  not  to  make  his  aj)pearance.  On  one  side  was 
the  door,  and  on  the  other  was  a  four-li^ht  window, 
and  under  that  stood  a  four-legged  table  made  of  clap- 
board, hewn  out  of  an  oak  tree  by  a  tool  called  a 
frow,  well  known  by  settlers  of  a  new  country.  On 
this  table  we  ate  our  meals;  six  could  be  seated,  and 
sometimes  we  crammed  in  some  of  the  small  children. 
Oh,  what  comfort  we  enjoyed,  I  never  enjoyed  such 
comfort  in  a  richly  furnished  parlor,  as  I  did  in  our 
log  cabin. 

Mother  Blackmore  was  an  old  Revolutionary  Meth- 
odist. Her  maiden  daughter  was  a  devoted  Christian. 
They  brought  their  certificates  of  membership  with 
them.  The  widowed  daughter  was  a  back-slider, 
although  a  fine  woman  otherwise,  with  one  of  the 
warmest  hearts  ever  placed  in  its  casket.  She  loved 
the  Methodists,  and  believed  in  their  doctrines.  The 
brother  was  a  decided  friend  to  Methodism,  but  knew 
nothing  of  experiuiental  religion  at  that  time. 

In  that  cabin,  under  those  circumstances,  we  had 
divine  service  the  first  Sabbath  after  our  arrival; 
preaching  by  llev.  J.  Noe,  a  local  Methodist  minister 
wh<j  had  moved  there  a  few  months  j)revious.  He 
had  been  preaching  alternately  in  the  log  cabins 
around  the  Grove,  and  had  formed  a  small  class.  Tlie 
Missionary,  Brother  Joseph  McKeon,  of  former 
acx[uaintance  in  Sangamon  County,  Illin(»is,  had 
arrived  a  few  weeks  previous.  The  mission  was 
called    the    Buffalo   Grove    Mission,  attacheil    Ut  the 


126  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Galena  District,  Eev.  Alfred  Bronson  Presiding^ 
Elder.  AYlien  Brother  McKeon  came  to  the  mission, 
Brother  Moe  handed  in  the  names  of  the  members  to 
him,  and  he  organized  a  class  properly,  appointing 
Father  Isaac  Eosecrans  as  class  leader.  There  were 
fifteen,  besides  our  families,  in  attendance,  and  nearly 
all  staved  to  class.  AYe  had  an  excellent  class  meet- 
ing. I  never  shall  forget  it.  I  expect  to  recall  it  in 
the  better  world,  if  I  am  so  happy  as  to  get  there. 
To  one  who  had  been  for  some  time  without  religious 
privileges,  especially  that  of  class  meeting,  it  was 
precious.  True,  Brother  Phelps  had  class  with  us 
when  he  preached  at  our  house,  but  there  was  seldom 
any  but  myself  and  family  present.  Of  course  I 
expected  to  live  in  this  new  country  without  religious 
privileges  for  a  while;  but  now  the  first  Sabbath 
found  me  so  delightfully  situated,  here  to  meet  with 
some  of  the  old  pioneers  who  had  stood  the  toil  and 
burden  of  earlier  days  and  helped  to  plant  the  stan- 
dard of  the  Cross  and  sustain  Methodism  in  Ohio,. 
Vermont,  and  other  places,  and  hear  them  tell  of  the 
wonders  of  Emmanuel;  how  wonderfully  the  grace 
of  God  had  sustained  them  mid  all  the  trials  of  life; 
and  then  speak  of  their  hopes  of  an  eternal  inheritance 
in  the  better  world,  and  their  hopes  of  seeing  this 
wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.  They  hoped  the 
gospel  seed  would  be  sown  all  over  those  ])rairies^ 
and  that  it  would  produce  '*  an  hundred  fold,"  and 
in  the  end,  everlasting  life.  Well  do  I  recollect  how 
my  heart  was  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  how  near 
my  Saviour  was,  how  strong  the  emotion  of  Christian 
love   was   toward    that    little    group.       There   were 


FRONTIER    LIFE.  127 

Christian    tics   funned    there    tliat    day  never   to    l>e 
broken. 

I  met  there  fur  the  tirst  time  Fatlier  and  Mother 
Koseerans,  Brother  and  Sister  Ch^rk,  Hruther  and 
Sister  Dorset,  Sister  Chloe  Benedict,  wlio  is  now  the 
wurtliy  cunsurt  of  our  much  esteemed  I>rother  Barton 
('art\vri»^ht,  and  others,  who  have  entered  into  the 
lieaven  of  rest.  And  then  to  realize  that  the  mission- 
ary of  the  Cross  was  there  before  us,  and  that  lie  was 
our  own  familiar  friend.  He  had  been  our  minister 
in  the  Sang-amon  Circuit,  lie  had  visited  at  our 
house,  and  we  had  enjoyed  sweet  Christian  couusel 
with  him.  This  increased  our  joy.  I  had  always 
known  our  Methodists  to  be  a  working  people,  but  I 
<lid  not  ex[>ect  to  find  them  here,  so  close  on  the 
track  of  the  savage,  and  so  near  the  emigrant  ]>ath. 
J>ut  it  was  even  su,  and  it  was  a  great  cumf<»rt  tu  me. 

Father  and  Mother  Ilosecrans  stayed  and  took  tea 
with  us,  and  we  talked  over  uur  past  exi)erience  in 
regard  tu  the  success  of  the  Methodist  church  every- 
where we  had  lived.  The  old  gentleman  remarked, 
•'  One  reason  of  their  success  is,  that  they  are  all  and 
always  lalioring  to  scatter  its  sacred  intluence.  I  hope 
it  will  l>e  so  here,  and  if  so,  there  is  not  a  doubt  in 
my  mind  but  it  will  be  the  power  of  (timI  to  the 
salvation  of  the  j>euple  here  as  elsewhere.  Xow, 
brethren,"  he  continued,  **  we  must  liave  a  church, 
even  if  a  small  one  and  l)uilt  of  logs.  We  must  have 
a  ])lace  to  worship.  The  Lord  does  not  <lespise  small 
thin<;s."  With  one  consent  the  ])rothers  and  sisters 
resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  buikl  a  log  meeting 
house,  and  our  interview  closed  with  i^ood  feelini;. 


128  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

On  the  Ml  of  April,  a  few  weeks  after  our  arrival, 
the  doctor  said  to  me,  "  Mother,  I  think  we  had  better 
move  into  our  new  home  to-day;  I  could  get  along 
much  better  with  my  work  if  all  were  there."  I  was 
much  pleased  with  the  idea,  and  in  a  few  hours  we 
were  packed,  loaded  and  on  our  way,  the  distance 
being  about  two  miles,  and  our  friend  Blackmore  said 
he  would  go  and  help  us  that  day.  We  could  not  hire 
a  man  for  any  price,  but  occasionally  the  neighbors 
would  go  and  help  each  other,  and  thus  our  friend 
Blackmore  kindly  offered  us  his  assistance  that  day. 
We  arrived  at  our  new  home  safely,  found  the  house 
built  of  round  logs  and  the  roof  on;  the  upper  or 
chamber  floor  laid  with  clapboards.  The  logs  were 
neatly  hewn  down,  the  clapboards  shaved  smooth  with 
a  draw-knife  and  nailed  over  the  cracks,  all  of  which 
was  very  neat  and  comfortable.  Only  part  of  a  chim- 
ney was  built,  no  floor  below,  except  what  was  made 
of  the  large  chips  that  the  doctor  had  hewn  from  the 
logs,  and  they  lay  promiscously  over  the  ground 
inside. 

Every  one  of  us  went  to  work  heartily,  the  doctor  to 
flnishing  up  the  chimney,  friend  Blackmore  to  haul- 
ing some  stone  with  which  to  fix  up  the  fireplace  with 
back  and  jams,  so  that  the  fire  would  not  burn  the 
wood  work.  The  little  boys  and  myself  busied  our- 
selves with  laying  those  large  chips  smooth  and 
regular,  and  it  made  quite  a  temporary  floor.  Pretty 
soon  we  had  things  so  comfortable  I  got  dinner,  and 
friend  Blackmore  partook  of  our  frugal  meal  and  then 
took  his  departure,  with  his  best  wishes,  saying  that 
some  member  of  his  family  would  be  up  soon  to  see 


FUoNTIKK    MI'K.  1*J'.» 

Low  we  ir<'t  aloiiirat  oiir  m-w  lionic.  After  <»ur  iVirnd 
had  left,  the  doctor  and  I  went  to  ]>\ittin;^  up  some 
slielves,  made  of  cla]>h(>ards,  for  a  cuphoard,  some 
itemporary  bedsteads;  made  a  table  out  of  a  dry«;oods 
))0x,  and  by  night  we  began  to  feel  cpiite  at  home  at 
i>ur  own  iireside. 

Our  cabin  was  just  within  the  edge  of  the  grove, 
which  made  a  nice  shade  in  summer,  and  a  good 
shelter  in  winter.  As  evening  approached  we  felt  a 
little  lonelv  so  far  from  neighbors — two  miles  to 
the  nearest  neighbor;  twelve  miles  to  Dixon;  lifteen 
miles  to  the  nearest  neighbor  northeast  of  us,  and  two 
miles  to  Kock  river.  There  were  a  number  of  fami- 
lies settled  on  the  west  side  of  Rock  river,  but  there 
^vas  no  ferry  near  us,  so  it  was   rather  a  lonely   place. 

As  we  drew  near  the  lire — it  was  a  little  cool — I 
meditated  thus:  ''Xow,  if  I  could  hope  that  my  hus- 
band would  remain  at  home,  as  a  farmer  generally 
•does,  with  his  family,  I  could  bear  this  lonely  feeling, 
but  I  know  not  how  soon  he  may  be  called  away,  and 
I  left  here  with  my  dear  little  ones,  without  a  door  to 
])r(jtect  us  from  an  attack  of  prairie  wolves,  or  any 
other  wild  animals  which  might  be  roving  through 
this  new  country."  I  asked  the  doctor  if  "he  had  ever 
seen  any  wolves  in  the  grove."'  ''Oh!  no,"  said  he, 
•''they  stay  on  the  prairie,  that  is  why  they  are  called 
prairie  wolves.  They  will  not  hurt  us,  but  they  may 
pick  up  some  of  our  pigs  or  chickens;  they  will  not 
attack  a  })erson." 

The  hardy  |)ioneers,  with   the  a])proval  of   the  mis 
:sionary,  went  to  work,  and  in  a   few  weeks  they  had  a 
:nice,  sound  log  meeting-house,  hewed  down  inside,  and 


130  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

the  cracks  battened  up  with  clapboards.  This  made- 
it  look  white  and  clean.  The  floor  and  seats  were 
made  of  piincheons,  as  they  were  called,  the  door  of 
clapboards,  and  after  being  neatly  brushed  out  it  was 
ready  for  dedication.  The  next  thing  was  to  haye  a 
two  days'  meeting  and  dedicate  it  to  the  Lord. 

Brother  Mclvean  went  for  Brother  Thomas  Hitt,  (of 
early  memory)  of  the  Illinois  conference,  who  had 
moyed  and  located  on  the  west  side  of  Rock  riyer,. 
about  six  miles  distant  from  the  stream,  in  the 
suburbs — now- — of  Mt.  Morris,  to  assist  him  in  the 
dedication  seryices.  It  was  giyen  out  all  round 
the  mission.  When  the  day  arriyed  we  were  aston- 
ished to  see  the  congregation.  How  our  hearts  glowed 
with  gratitude  to  the  Giyer  of  all  our  mercies,  for 
this  blessing.  Neyer  did  the  hearts  of  any  society, 
who  were  about  to  dedicate  a  church,  worth  ten,, 
twenty  or  tliirtj  thousand  dollars,  throb  with  such 
emotion  as  did  ours.  There  was  no  anxious  thought 
as  to  who  would  make  up,  by  subscription,  or 
otherwise,  the  remainder  due  on  the  church,  for  all 
was  paid. 

Brother  Hitt  preached  a  yery  aj)propriate  sermon, 
and  the  people  listened  with  delight,  and  with  aston- 
ishment realized  that  there,  on  almost  the  same 
ground  where  the  Indian  wigwam  stood  but  a  few 
months  since,  and  only  the  yell  of  the  saya^e  wa& 
heard,  now  there  was  a  Christian  church  reared,  and 
the  sure  sound  of  the  gospel  trumpet  echoed  and 
re-echoed  in  our  hearts,  and  in  the  groyes  (the 
church  was  between  Lafayette  and  Washington 
Groyes.) 


in 


FRONTIKIt    LIKK.  131 

think  I  shall  ever  recnllect  the  sweet,  sacred  feel- 
ir  that  pervaded  the  congret^atiun  as  tliey  sang  those 
sacred  verses,  composed  l)y  the  divint;  AV^atts: 

"From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies, 
Let  the  Creatijr's  jiraise  arise; 
Let  the  Redeemer's  name  be  sun^', 
Throiijjfh  every  land,  by  every  ton^'ue. 

Eternal  are  thy  mercies,  Lord; 

Eternal  truth  attend  thy  word; 

Thy  praise  shall  sound  from  shore  to  shore, 

'  Till  sun  shall  rise  and  set  no  more. 

Your  lofty  themes,  ye  mortals  briufr, 
In  songs  di\'iuely  sing. 
The  great  salvation  loud  proclaim, 
And  shout  for  joy  the  Saviour's  name. 

Li  every  land  begin  the  song — 
To  every  land  the  strain  belongs — 
In  cheerful  soimds  all  voices  raise, 
And  fill  the  world  with  loudest  praise." 

Tlie  benediction  was  pronounced  and  the  services 
closed. 

Thus  began  our  acquaintance  with  the  lamented 
Hn »tlier  T.  Hitt.  lie  was  very  useful  in  tlie  settling 
nf  this  country.  lie  ])reaclied  nearly  every  Sabbath, 
and  with  great  accej>tability.  lie  attended  all  the 
<|Uarterly,  two-days  and  canij)nieetings,  and  hibored 
with  much  love  for  the  good  of  ])recioU!^  souls,  and  a 
lasting  nieniorv  should  be  kept  of  his  untiring  labors 
in  founding,  building  and  sustaining  the  llock  River 
Seminary.  It  cost  some  eff<jrt  to  build  and  sustain 
such  an  institution  at  that  time,  I  assure  you,  and  had 
it  not  been  for  the  sustaining  grace  of  God  in  our 
hearts,  and  his  tillin<^  our  hands  with  his  benefits,  we 


132  EECOLLECTIONS    OF 

never  could  have  done  it.  Many  a  liard  day's  work 
did  my  little  boys  do  hauling  lumber  from  a  small 
water  mill,  on  Kite  creek,  with  which  to  build.  Oh  I 
what  labor,  what  untiring  energy  it  took  to  accom- 
plish it ;  but  thank  and  praise  the  Lord,  it  was  done. 

I  well  recollect  the  year  and  day  that  the  corner- 
stone of  that  institution  was  laid;  it  was  on  the  4th 
day  of  July,  1840 — the  same  year  that  the  Rock  River 
Conference  held  its  first  session,  commencing  Aug. 
26,  and  continuing  till  Sept.  2d.  It  held  forth  in  a 
large  tent  a  few  miles  from  3It.  Morris,  on  a  camp- 
meeting  occasion,  two  sacred  and  long  to  be  remem- 
bered incidents  in  the  history  of  the  Rock  River 
Conference.  I  hope  it  will  not  be  forgotten  when  the 
history  of  that  conference  is  written. 

AVell  do  I  recollect  Bishop  l\"augh's  sermon  on  that 
memorable  occasion  on  Sabbath  morning— what  power 
there  was  in  that  sermon,  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  over- 
shadowed the  congregation,  the  presence  of  the  Most 
High  rested  upon  us.  Many  who  may  read  this  may 
remember,  with  me,  that  sacred  occasion.  Bless  the 
Lord  for  all  his  beneiits,  and  may  He  ever  abide  with 
the  Rock  River  Conference.  Well  do  I  recollect  how 
small  that  body  was  then.  There  are  but  a  few  of 
that  venerable  company  left,  although  it  is  but 
forty-live  years  since.  A  few  years  hence  there 
may  not  be  any  left,  all  having  gone  over  to  pos- 
sess the  ])romised  land.  But  how  that  body  has 
increased;  it  now  numbers  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  men  of  talent,  men  of  noble  acquire- 
ments; oh  I  may  they  know  what  it  is  to  live  in  the 
depths  of  humility,  and  rise  to  all  the  heights  of  love. 


FKONTIER    LIFK.  133 

AVliut  a  jM»\vt*r  tlicy  iiuiy  In'  in  the  salvati<»n  nf  the 
world  if  they  live  at  the  foot  uf  tlu'  i-r<»ss,  with  an 
entire  consecration  of  their  all  to  (i<kI  and  his  canse; 
and  oh  I  what  a  crown  they  will  have  in  that  day,  when 
He  Cometh  to  make  up  his  jewels. 

How  many  of  this  noble  hody  of  men  have  obtained 
the  better  part  of  their  eai'ly  t'diicati<.ii  at  tliaf  dcai-  old 
Rock  River  Seminary  I 

Great  <^ood  has  resulted  to  the  church,  intli\  iduals 
and  community  in  general.  All  through  the  Uock 
River  Conference  you  will  find  men  of  talent,  whose 
characters  have  been  moulded  there.  Also  ])hysiciAns, 
lawyers  and  business  men  have  received  their  educa- 
tion at  that  Rock  River  Seminary,  and  are  scattered  all 
through  our  community.  And  well  may  we  say  that 
while  dear  Brother  Hitt,  and  may  of  his  co-laborers, 
such  as  Rev.  John  Clark,  John  T.  Mitchell,  A.  E. 
Phelps,  and  other  of  the  first  trustees  and  agents,  have 
ceased  from  their  labors,  yet  their  works  do  follow 
them,  and  this  noble  old  institution  has  strui^f'led 
through  many  hard  waves  that  threatened  its  ruin,  as 
a  Methodist  instiution,  and  through  the  untiring 
efforts  of  its  worthy  trustees  and  noble  friends,  now 
stands  on  a  firm  basis,  and  is  manned  with  a  noble 
faculty,  and  bids  fair  to  be  more  useful  in  its  latter 
than  in  its  former  days.  Long  may  it  live  to  shed  its 
influence  over  the  rising  generation. 

I  remember  when  we,  a  few  Methodists — a  hand- 
ful in  comparisoj'  to  what  there  is  now  in  the  Rock 
river  vallev — lai<l  our  offerin<;s  on  that  altar,  and  tlie 
Lord  accepted  and  sanctified  them,  and  our  children 
have  grown  uj>  and  shared  in  its  benefits,  eight  in  all, 


134  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 


six  soii>  and  two  daughters,  have  received  the  hest 
part  of  their  education  there,  and  liave  gone  out  to  do 
battle  witli  the  cares  of  the  world,  all  the  better  for 
the  kind  instruction  they  received  there.  AVell  do  I 
recollect  when  the  noble  Xr.  Pinckney  came  to  the 
institution.  He  was  just  fresh  from  the  classic  hall, 
his  heart  warm  with  the  love  of  God,  and  deeply 
imbued  with  the  worth  of  precious  souls ;  was  well 
calculated  to  be  useful,  and  nobly  did  he  do  his  duty. 
The  Lord  blessed  his  labors,  and  many  souls  were 
brouorht  to  the  knowledo-e  of  the  truth  throuo^h  his 

O  o  O 

instrumentality.  I  recollect  a  sermon  he  preached  in 
the  uj^per  hall,  before  it  was  divided  up  into  rooms. 
Great  power  attended  his  words — what  a  crowd  at  the 
altar  of  prayer;  what  an  earnest  struggle  there  was  to 
enter  into  life,  that  is  hidden  in  Christ  ^vith  God. 

We  will  now  call  the  attention  of  the  reader  back 
to  the  little  lot--  meetinij-house.  We  soon  had  a  dav- 
school  and  Sabbath  school  organized,  and  we  all  felt 
quite  at  home.  Brother  ]\lclvean  was  faithful  to  his 
work — hunting  up  emigrants  who  were  Methodists  or 
inclined  to  be,  putting  them  into  classes,  encouraging 
them  to  be  faithful,  visiting  them  once  in  four  weeks, 
that  l)eing  as  often  as  he  could  possibly  get  around. 
I  think  there  are  several  districts  now,  composed 
mostly  of  what  was  '•  Buffalo  Grove  Mission." 
Aboitt  September,  1S3H,  I  think,  Bro.  McKean  had  a 
camp  meeting  at  Elk  Horn  Grove.  Brother  Bronson, 
our  presiding  elder,  preached  the  Word  in  powerful 
eloquence,  and  many  souls  were  converted;  many 
believing  and  were  sanctified.  The  conversions  were 
mostlv  coniined  to  the  class  of  vouno:  folks,  averaofino; 


FKOXTIKU    LIFK.  135 

fi-niii  ten  to  tifteen  years  of  a<^e.  8<>iiii'  uf  the 
brethren  were  talkini^  to  l>rother  Bronson  on  tin* 
sulrject,  and  said  thev  were  afraid  those  yonn«^  con- 
verts would  fall  out  hy  the  way;  and  some  of  the 
brothers  and  sisters  thought  the  youn«;er  children 
t>ught  to  be  taken  out  of  the  altar.  The  elder  said, 
*'  No,  no,  brothers,  that  would  be  wrong.  I  fear  you 
would  grieve  the  spirit  of  God  if  you  did  scj,"  Just 
then  we  heard  the  shouts  of  the  new-born  souls. 
'•  That  work  is  of  the  Lord,''  said  the  elder,  "  I  feel  it, 
it  comes  like  electricity  to  my  heart.''  "Would  you 
let  them  join  the  church? "  asked  a  lu-other.  "Yes,'' 
replied  the  elder,  "there  are  ten  chances  to  save  them 
in  the  church,  to  one  out  of  the  church.  Take  them 
in  and  nurse  them,  and  they  will  grow  up  men  and 
women  in  Christ  Jesus.  Don't  lift  your  linger 
against  it."  Among  the  converts  were  my  friends 
the  Blackmores,  who  welcomed  us  so  kindly  on  our 
arrival.  The  son  and  widowed  sister  each  got  religion, 
and  went  home  rejoicing  in  the  Lord.  This  added  two 
jnore  to  our  little  class.  There  were  a  few  more 
families  who  moved  in,  and  among  them  were  some 
Methodists  who  joined  with  us.  I  think  the  class 
numbered  about  twenty-five  or  more  ])ersons  at  this 
time. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  camp  meeting  we  suffered 
the  misfortune  of  having  our  little  church  burned 
down,  and  for  awhile  we  were  com2)elled  to  use  our 
little  loi^  cabins  a^cain,  and  often  thev  were  a  blessin;; 
to  our  souls.  x\nd  we  rejoiced  in  the  hope  that  we 
Would  some  day  enjoy  a  uiansion  in  our  Father's 
liouse,  where  lire    could    not    consume    it.       lly    the 


136  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

following  spring  we  had  another  church  built  upon 
almost  the  same  ground.  iSow  there  was  a  small  saw 
mill  started  in  Washington  Grove,  and  we  had  the 
logs  sawed  this  time.  The  church  was  built  of 
frame,  the  shingles  were  made  by  hand  for  the  roof,, 
and  soon  Brother  Hitt  was  called  to  dedicate  another 
church,  and  still  the  only  one  in  Eock  River  Yalley.. 
AYlien  we  moved  to  our  new  home  there  was  not  a 
house  in  sight,  no  road  except  the  one  we  had  made 
traveling  from  AYashington  Grove.  AYe  named  our 
home  "  Light  House,"  because  it  stood  upon  an 
eminence,  and  from  the  circumstance  of  our  taking^ 
in  those  who  were  traveling  on  the  "  Old  Indian 
Trail,"  running  from  Rockyford,  (now  Eockford)  to 
Dixon,  where  there  was  a  trading  post  and  a  fort. 
Many  travelers  would  have  perished  the  first  winter 
we  were  there  had  it  not  been  for  the  light  I  kept  in 
the  window,  when  it  was  stormy,  to  direct  my 
husband,  and  others  avIio  might  be  out  in  the  storm, 
to  the  house.  There  is  a  strip  of  timber  running  up 
from  Eock  Eiver,  forming  a  beautiful  little  grove. 
This  stands  on  a  bluff,  and  just  below  it  in  a  large 
hollow  is  one  of  the  loveliest  springs  that  ever  ran  out 
of  the  earth.  All  around  it  there  was  a  grove  of 
small  trees,  but  now  they  are  large  and  majestic. 
Many  times  have  I  gone  to  the  top  of  that  bluff,  and 
casting  my  eyes  over  that  beautiful  prairie,  I  could 
not  see  a  single  human  being.  I  could  occasionally  see 
a  deer  bounding  swiftly  along,  or  a  wolf  skulking — the 
birds  flitting  amid  the  tall  grass  and  lovely  prairie 
flowers.  I  would  reflect  thus:  Dear  Lord,  who  will 
settle  this  beautiful  prairie?     It  will  be  settled  some 


FRONTIER    I.IFK.  1*>7 

day  without  <li»iil»t.  Ami  tluMi  I  would  knt'cl  an<l 
beg  the  Lord  to  send  Hume  intellii^eiit  Christian 
people' among  ns.  This  was  the  constant  yearning  <»f 
my  heart. 

In  the  spring  of  1S37,  there  came -three  excellent 
men  from  Canada,  Brother  John  Martin,  the  father 
of  our  weu'thy  brothers — J  as,,  Ilemw,  and  J.  W. 
Martin,  of  the  Kock  Kiver  Conference;  the  otlier^ 
Bro.  Nathaniel  J^>rown,  tlie  brother  of  J^ro.  S.  Brown^ 
of  Light  House  Point;  also  Bro.  Anthony  Wood. 
They  were  hunting  for  a  Methodist  liome.  AVe  were 
glad  to  welcome  them;  they  found  locations  to  suit 
them,  and  then  they  returned  to  Canada  for  their 
families.  In  the  fall  they  returned  with  their  families, 
with  ]>ros.  Philip  Plants  and  Amasa  Woods  Jiccom- 
panying  them.  About  this  time  Bro.  Enoch  Wood 
and  Brother  Henry  Farwell  moved  in  h\nn  New 
York  state.  They  came  in  Methodist  order,  bringing 
their  letters  with  them.  The  following  year  brought 
Bro.  Xettleton  and  Bro.  Ilichard  Martin,  from 
Canada.  Bro.  E.  Martin  was  a  local  minister,  strong 
in  doctrine,  very  exemplary  and  useful  among  us. 

Brijther  Moses  Xettleton  brought  a  large  family 
with  him.  They  have  grown  u])  to  be  useful  men 
and  women  among  us.  The  oldest  daughter 
was  married,  an<l  I  think  it  was  the  first 
wedding  in  our  colony.  They  now  reside  at 
Liirht  House  Point,  and  thev  have  done  much  to 
sustain  Methodism  there.  Their  home  is  a  resting 
jdace  for  the  itinerant  and  weary  pilgrim.  Tiieir 
hearts  and  hands  are  ever  open  to  receive  and  admin- 
ister to  the  wants  of  the  friends  of  Zion.      l>rother  J. 


138  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Martin  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  They  were 
dedicated  to  the  Lord  in  infancy,  and  the  three  older 
children  were  converted  in  Canada.  William,  a  very 
pious  young  man,  died  at  the  age  of  21  or  22  years — 
the  iirst  death  •  in  our  colony.  It  w^as  hard  to  give 
him  up,  there  was  so  much  promise  in  his  character, 
and  his  loss  was  deeply  lamented.  Brother  Luke 
Hitchcock  preached  the  funeral  sermon  at  the  new 
frame  church,  I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  so  much 
deep-felt  grief  manifested  on  a  funeral  occasion. 
Some  who  read  this  may  no  doubt  remember  this  sad 
-occurrence.  Yet  they  sorrowed  not  as  those  who 
have  no  hope  of  immortality  and  eternal  life  through 
our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ.  Two  were  spared,  and  two 
more  sons  were  born  in  Illinois.  And  now  there  are 
three  of  the  sons  co-workers  and  ministers  in  our  Zion; 
•James  is  in  California  conference,  Henry  in  Hock 
River  Conference,  presiding  elder  of  the  Rockford 
'district,  John  "W.  in  the  Minnesota  conference. 

Brother  James  xs'ettleton,  youngest  son  of  Moses 
JSTettleton,  is  a  useful  member  of  the  M.  E.  church, 
and  of  the  official  board  of  Light  House  Point,  ever 
ready,  he  and  his  good  wife,  for  every  good  word  and 
^vork. 

And  still  the  friends  came  in  from  Canada.  Soon 
Brother  John  McKenney  and  several  of  his  brothers, 
•and  dear  old  Father  and  Mother  McKenney  came 
with  them.  Brother  John  Edmonds  came  in  early 
time,  and  settled  on  a  beautiful  farm  near  the  laro-e 
spring  and  camp  ground,  and  he  still  lives  there, 
getting  rich  and  doing  good.  He  has  done  much  for 
the  cause  of  Zion,  and  has  long  been  a  faithful  super- 


FKoNTIKK    I.IFK.  189 

inteiuk'nt  «>f  tlie  Sabbatli  sclmnl,  and  jtniys  fur  its 
>iu'cess  evervAvliere.  He  bnjii^lit  his  mother,  three 
sisters  and  a  brother  witli  him.  His  mother  was  a 
])ioiis,  devoted  Christian,  a  good  tailoress,  and  was 
very  nsefnl  in  onr  colony.  The  sisters  were  very 
i,'ood  lionsekee})ers,  and  often  did  they  come  and 
hel])  me,  nineli  to  my  relief,  when  burdened  with 
labor  and  care;  they  always  came  in  the  dignity  of 
the  lady  and  the  spirit  of  a  Christian.  Two  of  those 
young  ladies  were  converted  soon  after  they  moved  to 
<»ur  neighborhood,  and  joine<l  our  class.  Sarali,  the 
voun^er,  is  the  worth v  consort  of  Brother  Jas. 
Nettleton,  before  mentioned,  of  Light  House  Point. 

Brother  Edmonds  and  his  excellent  wife,  have 
raised  a  large  family,  have  taken  a  great  deal  of  pains 
to  educate  them,  and  the  Lord  has  converted  them, 
and  they  bid  fair  for  great  usefulness.  Li  their 
}>leasant  family  I  found  kind  entertainment. 

AVhile  attending  a  camp-meeting,  on  the  dear  old 
camp  ground,  in  July,  1S69,  I  formed  a  brief 
acquaintance  with  Doctor  and  Sister  Palmer,  the 
threat  revivalists.  Thev  were  very  useful,  while  with 
us  on  this  camp-meeting  occasion,  and  we  hope  the 
Lord  will  permit  them  to  visit  us  again. 

In  the  year  LS37,  Brother  Kobert  DeLap  was  sent 
to  our  charge,  but  failing  in  health,  he  had  to  return 
home.  Brother  Henry  Summers  was  our  Presiding 
Elder,  and  succeeded  in  getting  Brother  J>arton  Cart- 
wright  to  sup}>ly  us;  he  came,  and  was  acceptable  and 
useful  among  us. 

That  fall  Brother  Lsjuic  Paul  was  sent  to  uur  circuit 
and  he  thou^^ht  there  had  better  l>e  a  class  formed  at 


140  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

our  lioiise.  This  was  very  congenial  witli  our  feel- 
ings. He  preaclied  and  made  an  effort,  and  there 
were  twelve  united  in  a  class  that  evening,  and 
John  Martin  was  our  class  leader. 

AYe  had  enlaro^ed  our  cabin  tliat  vear,  and  we  offered 
the  use  of  it  for  a  meeting  house,  and  it  was  gladly 
accepted,  and  our  humble  dwelling  was  honored  with 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  and  the  presence  of  the 
Lord  for  more  than  two  years.  Many  precious  souls 
were  converted  there,  and  our  little  class  gradually 
increased. 

The  next  summer  Brother  Paul  thought  we  would 
have  a  campmeeting  in  the  grove,  near  the  spring — I 
used  to  go  there  to  do  my  washing,  and  under  those 
little  trees  1  had  knelt  many,  many  times,  and  pra^^ed 
the  Lord  that  there  might  be  a  campmeeting  there,  as 
the  place  was  so  well  fitted  for  it;  such  excellent  water 
and  such  a  beautiful  grove.  And  now  the  Lord  was- 
about  to  answer  my  feeble  prayers,  and  I  rejoiced  in 
hope  that  my  children  and  fi-iends  would  be  converted 
there.  Our  oldest  son  sought  and  found  the  Lord  at 
a  campmeeting  the  year  before  at  Elkhorn  Grove, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  He  had  been  faithful 
and  joined  the  class  at  his  home.  But  there  were 
others  of  my  children  who  were  old  enough  to  know 
the  joys  of  salvation;  and  while  I  was  thankful  for 
this  token  of  mercy,  I  was  anxious  for  the  rest  of  my 
children. 

Brother  Paul  gave  out  the  announcement  of  the 
campmeeting  all  around  the  circuit.  It  was  then  a 
four-weeks'  circuit,  and  there  w^as  great  solicita- 
tion   and   anticipation   in   regard   to   it.      The   time 


FRONTIKII    I.I  IK.  141 

<lrew     near,    and     tlie     sjxtt    was    8ek'ctc'<l     for    the 
meetin*^. 

There  was  a  faniilv  liviiij;  in  our  nei«z:h]t«)rh()(Ml  wlio 
had  been  to  Miehi«^an  on  a  visit,  and  eanie  home  with 
the  sniall})o.\.  They  lived  mar  the  place  selected  for 
the  cain}>nieetini^.  This  news  tlew,  as  it  M'cre,  round 
the  circuit— altlK>ut;h  we  had  no  tele^ra}>h  then — 
and  the  j)eople  were  much  alarmed,  and  Jjrothers  Kose- 
crans  and  Martin,  and  all  the  otticial  members  thought 
no  one  would  come  to  the  meeting,  and  so  no  prepa- 
ration was  made.  Brother  Paul  came  on  Monday, 
and  finding  this  condition  of  things,  went  to  my 
husband  and  inquired  of  him  what  he  thought,  as  he 
had  been  in  attendance  on  this  family  through  their 
illness,  and  he  re])lied  that  he  had  "vaccinated  all 
through  the  neighborhood;  that  the  family  was  almost 
well,  and  the  house  could  be  tlnjroui'hlv  cleansed,  and 
he  would  warrant  that  no  barm  would  come  to  any- 
itne."  ''Well,  if  you  will  do  that,"  said  Brother  Paul 
in  re})ly,  "1  will  push  the  meeting."'  lie  sent  the 
news  by  letter,  and  on  liorseback,  all  round  tlie  circuit, 
and  himself  remained  at  Jiome  and  rallied  the  brethren, 
lie  labored  intensely,  and  Ijy  Friday  evening  there 
were  the  usual  tents  on  the  ground,  and  the  camp- 
ground well  arranged.  Brother  Summers  safely 
landed,  and  we  had  a  gracious  meeting  that  night. 
On  Saturday  a  number  nn»re  settlers  came  in,  and 
then  we  had  (piite  a  large  congregation.  J^>rother 
Summers  preached  and  prayed  in  the  si)irit.  Brother 
Lumerv  was  there  and  i^ave  us  some  of  his  old- 
fashioned  spiritual  ])reaching,  so  spiritual  that  some 
<»f    tlie    wicked    ones   calle<l    him    the    "  llolv     (ihost 


142  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Preacher."  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  was  upon  the 
people,  the  place  was  sacred  on  account  of  it.  What 
attention,  what  religious  zeal  was  manifested  there  I 

But  there  was  another  difficulty.  The  country  was 
overrun  by  Blacklegs,  some  called  them, — a  set  of 
horse-thieves  who  were  stealing  horses  and  cattle, 
robbing  houses,  and  doing  all  sorts  of  mischief, 
and  many  of  the  people  feared  they  would  be  there^ 
at  least  on  the  Sabbath,  and  do  some  mischief.  Sab- 
bath came,  and  earlv  in  the  dav  the  "'  rmo-  leader " 
of  this  set  was  seen  to  walk  on  the  ground  with  a  num- 
ber of  suspicious  looking  characters  with  him.  The 
ministers  kept  an  eye  on  them,  as  they  kept  pretty 
closely  together;  but  they  were  attentive  listeners  to 
the  preaching,  and  appeared  civil.  Many  of  the 
congregation  were  alarmed,  but  I  was  not;  and  told 
the  brothers  and  sisters  if  we  treated  them  kindly 
they  would  do  us  no  harm,  and  perhaps  the  Lord 
would  convert  some  of  them.  Brotlier  Summers 
thought  so  too.  I  was  acquainted  with  several  of 
them  through  the  Doctor's  practice  in  their  families. 
I  had  reason  not  to  fear  them,  as  they  respected  the 
Doctor,  and  would  treat  me  and  my  friends  kindly 
for  his  sake,  although  he  was  not  present,  being  off 
visiting  the  sick.  After  we  had  been  at  dinner  at 
our  tent  the  '"  leader ''  came  to  me  and  said,  *'  Mrs. 
Roe,  a  number  of  us  would  like  to  get  some  dinner 
with  you  if  you  will  take  the  money  for  it.''  *'  But," 
said  I,  "  that  would  be  wicked,  and  I  don't  think  I 
could  do  it."  "  But,"  he  said,  '*  I  feel  that  would 
be  imposing  upon  you  to  eat  without  paying  for  it,  as 
there   have   been   more   than    lifty   eaten   with    you 


FRONTIKIi    I.IFK.  YA'.) 

already.  AVe  tliall  ^<>  away  without  uur  (liniier  iink'.>> 
you  will  accept  6oniethin«^  for  it."  ^'AVell,"  I  replied, 
"lirother  Suinmers,  our  elder,  is  here,  and  if  you 
will  give  him  something  you  can  leave  it  on  the  tahle 
hy  your  plates,  and  I  will  give  it  to  him  as  a  present 
from  you."  Said  he,  "AVewish  to  give  it  to  you, 
and  you  can  dispose  of  it  as  you  see  fit."  *'WelL 
well,"  1  said,  "sit  down  and  eat  your  dinner."  They 
did  so,  and  when  they  left  I  found  several  d(»llars  on 
the  table,  and  I  gave  it  all  to  Brother  Summers. 
They  lingered  that  evening  till  the  meeting  was  ahout 
closed,  and  then  left  without  doing  any  harm  hut 
taking  a  saddle  off  our  tent,  having  seen  Brother 
Law  put  it  there  while  they  were  taking  their  <linner. 
The  meetiuij  commenced  at  earlv  candle-liirht. 
Brother  l.umerv  ])i*eaehed  in  the  s]>irit.  IJrother 
Paul  exhorted,  the  i>ower  of  the  Lord  was  in  every 
word,  every  prayer.  What  an  easy  access  the  child 
of  (iod  had  to  a  throne  of  grace  I  Brother  Paul 
called  for  mourners,  the  altar  was  soon  crowded,  and 
the  cry  from  the  gray  haired  sinner  d(^>wn  to  the 
youth  was,  '*  Men  and  brethren  I  what  shall  we  do  to 
be  saved?  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  I ''  They 
were  direct^  to  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  the 
promises  held  up  to  them,  and  many  claimed  those 
precious  promises,  and  found  Ilim  of  whom  Moses 
and  the  Pro])hets  did  tell.  The  next  mnrning  we  had 
a  love  feast  at  the  stand,  and  it  was  a  love  feast 
indeed.  There  were  (piite  a  number  wh<>  found  peace 
in  believin<;  while  in  the  love-feast.  Amoiiir  them 
were  three  of  Brother  IK-iiry  Farwell's  s(>ns.  They 
were    quite    youths     then.  Jackson,     the    oldest: 


l-Jr-i  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

Charles,  the  next;  and  John  Y.,  the  third.  The  two 
younger  now  reside  in  Chicago,  and  this  sacred  leaven 
that  was  hidden  in  their  hearts  that  beantifnl 
mornino^  in  that  little  crrove  has  diffused  its  influence 
all  along  their  lives. 

Brother  Summers  gave  an  opportunity  to  any  who 
wished  to  join  the  church,  and  there  was  rising  of 
forty  united,  and  most  of  them  joined  our  class. 
Among  them  my  second  son,  F.  M.  Roe,  and  Brother 
FarwelFs  three  sons.  Brother  Martin's  only  daughter 
(Sarah  Jane).  She  lived  a  faithful,  exemplary  life, 
mid  a  few  years  ago  died  a  happy  Christian  death, 
and  has  gone  uj)  to  possess  the  goodly  land  before 
her  aged  parents.  But  their  j)rospects  are  bright  for 
an  inheritance  there.  I  have  kept  a  Christian  watch 
over  that  happy  group,  and  never  knew  but  one 
to  willfully  and  wickedly  backslide.  That  was  John 
Carr,  Jr.  But  he  was  mercifully  reclaimed  on  his 
death-bed,  I  believe  in  answer  to  a  mother's  pi-ayers, 
and  died  in  a  sweet  hope.  Some  others  have  gone  to 
rest,  but  many  still  remain,  and  are  pillars  in  our 
■church. 

Our  meeting  closed  with  the  best  of  feelings,  and 
from  that  time  we  had  a  continual  revival  for  two 
years.  And  our  class  increased  till  it  had  to  be 
•divided,  there  were  more  than  a  hundr^  members. 
By  this  time  we  had  got  a  frame  school  house,  and 
held  our  meetings  there.  Brother  John  Clark  held 
the  first  quarterly  meeting  in  our  school  house  just 
before  he  left  for  Texas.  It  was  a  gracious  revival. 
Then  we  held  a  protracted  meeting  for  several  weeks 


FKoNTIKK    lAVK.  \^'* 

and  we  were  worsliippinj^  tliere  when  some  of  the 
leaders  of  the  despenido  gang  were  captured  for 
murdering  one  of  our  best  citizens,  who  was  sliot 
within  two  miles  of  our  school  house. 

The  year  hefore  we  built  our  school  house  l>rother 
Luke  Hitchcock  was  sent  to  our  circuit,  and  oh!  how 
useful  he  was  in  buihling  up  our  Zion.  I  recollect 
he  preached  his  lirst  sermon  in  our  log  cabin.  Some 
said  he  was  too  proud  for  our  ''log cabin  Methodism,'' 
but  they  were  mistaken  in  the  man.  There  was  a 
dignified  bearing  in  his  appearance  and  deportment, 
but  ohi  how  humble,  kind  and  polite  he  was  in  all 
his  social  relations.  I  never  think  of  our  early 
accpiaintance  with  him  and  his  excellent  wife  but 
with  the  greatest  pleasure  and  earnest  Christian 
feelings.  He  was  then  a  young  man,  luit  long  has 
the  Lord  spared  him  to  labor  among  us.  Many  long 
years  has  he  traveled  our  prairies  to  ])reach  the  ever- 
lasting gospel.  I  often  think  what  a  rich  reward 
awaits  the  veterans  of  the  Kock  Kiver  and  Illinois 
Conferences.  Such  laurels  as  they  will  wear  when  lie 
cometh  to  make  up  his  jewels.  Father  Cartwright, 
Jesse  Walker,  S.  II.  Thompson,  John  Sinclair,  A.  E. 
Phelps,  John  Clark,  J.  T.  Mitchell,  Hooper  Crews, 
8.  H.  Stocking,  R.  Haney,  I.  Paul,  B.  Cartwright, 
L.  S.  Walker,  Jas.  McKean,  R.  K.  J^lanchard,  A. 
Bronson,  Father  ^fead,  Brother  Summers,  and  all 
such,  with  many  others  too  numerous  to  mention 
liere.  I  think  Brother  P.  Judson  traveled  our 
circuit  after  Brother  Hitchcock.  Some  revivals  took 
})lace  on  the  circuit,  but  none  in  our  class.  That  year  we 
built    our    parsonage.       A    good    state    of     religious 


146  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

feeling  existed,  but  no  revival  this  year,  as  the  subject 
of  building  a  church  was  under  consideration. 

The  next  year  Brother  L.  S.  AValker  was  sent  to 
our  charge.  The  parsonage  was  finished,  and  he 
moved  into  it  with  his  excellent  wife  and  family. 
The  first  donation  I  ever  attended  was  at  the  new 
parsonage.  We  were  glad  that  we  had  a  home  for 
our  preacher,  and  wished  to  make  a  demonstration, 
so  we  appointed  a  day,  and  as  many  as  could  get  into 
the  house  assembled,  and  each  family  that  attended 
took  some  refreshments  for  themselves  And  friends. 
We  had  a  very  pleasant  time,  had  prayers,  returned 
thanks,  and  retired  to  our  homes,  leaving  the  preacher 
and  family  some  better  off  than  we  found  them. 
That  year  we  had  a  good  revival  at  the  "Old  Church," 
as  we  began  to  call  it,  now  that  we  talked  of  having  a 
new  one.  And  we  talked  in  earnest;  the  Doctor 
offered  a  lot  of  three  acres,  large  enough  for  a  church 
and  a  burying-ground,  and  other  subscribed  liberally,, 
and  soon  there  was  enough  to  justifv"  the  building 
committee  to  commence.  The  friends  at  the  old 
church  approved  our  action,  though  they  could 
not  help  us;  but  after  the  revival  there 
they  were  a  little  more  generous,  and  helped 
us  some.  Brother  Walker  was  with  us  two  years, 
and  then  Brother  Brooks  came  to  our  charge. 
He  labored  with  us  acceptably,  but  we  had  no  revival 
that  year.  The  church  building  moved  slowly.  It 
was  not  then  as  it  is  now;  no  iron  horse  running  all 
over  the  country.  The  lumber  had  to  be  drawn  fi'om 
Chicago,  and  the  wheat  had  to  be  sold  for  fifty  cents 
per  bushel  to  purchase  the  lumber  with.  We  expected 


FRONTIEIi    1. 1  IK.  147 

tliat  things  wuiiUl  move  slowly,  l)iit  the  hearts  of  the 
people  were  tixed  to  build  a  new  church,  and  where 
tliere  is  a  will  and  that  will  is  to  the  glorv  of  God 
and  the  good  of  souls,  there  is  a  way.  And  it  was  so  in 
this  case.  The  first  builder  became  discouraged  and 
gave  it  up,  but  the  conti-act  was  then  let  to  our  much 
lamented  Brother  Woodcock,  and  it  was  pushed  to 
the  completion,  and  dedicated  to  the  Lord.  There 
liave  been  many  good  revivals  within  its  sacred  walls. 
There  is  a  large  membership  there  now,  and  the 
otiicials  are  mostly  made  up  of  our  early  converts. 

Our  worthy  Brother,  Bart<jn  Cartwright,  who 
labored  with  us  in  those  early  days,  is  now  the 
preacher  in  charge  on  the  Light  House  circuit.  After 
his  arduous  labors  as  Chaplain  in  Gen.  Sherman's 
army,  his  family  is  now  living  in  the  little  brick 
parsonage — Ijuilt  more  than  twenty-four  years  ago. 
He  has  been  very  useful  in  that  circuit,  and  I  hope  the 
Lord  will  water  his  labors  with  showers  of  grace,  that 
he  may  be  more  useful  in  his  latter  than  former  days. 

Our  mission  is  now  divided  up  into  several  districts, 
and  a  great  many  to^^^ls  are  scattered  over  the  land, 
and  in  almost  every  one  you  can  trace  the  fruits  of 
Methodism,  and  I  think  if  the  veterans  were  permitted 
to  view  the  landscape  o'er,  their  language  would  be, 
** Glory  to  God  in  the  highest!"  And  what  may  we 
not  hoj)e  for  in  the  next  century,  if  the  church  con- 
tinues humble  and  faithful  to  her  trust! 


148  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 


CIIAPTEK  YIII. 


EECOLLECTIOXS    OF    METHODISM    IX    CHICAGO. 

In  tlie  fall  of  IS 36  my  husband  thought  it  best  to 
move  to  Chicago,  as  he  was  very  much  worn  down 
with  the  practice  of  medicine.  Instead  of  coming  to 
Rock  river  to  be  a  farmer  as  he  anticipated  doing,  he 
had  run  unavoidably  into  a  heavy  practice — there  were 
scarcely  any  physicians  in  the  country — and  it  was 
impossible  to  get  rid  of  it.  He  practiced  with  great 
success,  while  the  little  boys  and  myself  managed  to 
open  and  improve  a  large  farm.  The  little  log  house 
at  the  edge  of  the  grove  that  had  answered  for  kitchen, 
parlor  and  bedroom,  as  well  as  for  a  meeting  house, 
for  years,  had  given  place  to  a  nice  frame  house  on 
the  broad  prairie. 

Everything  had  prospered  for  us  since  we  came 
to  our  new  home,  and  it  would  take  a  great  while  to 
tell  of  all  the  mercies  in  temporal  things,  as  well  as 
religious,  while  there,  but  let  me  say:  "The  Lord 
careth  for  those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him." 


FRONTIKR    MKK.  149 

We  tlien  owned  a  half  section  of  land,  and  everv- 
thinir  that  was  necessary  for  onr  C(Jinfort  on  a  lari^e 
farm,  hut  we  were  both  much  worn  down  with  the 
cares  and  duties  of  life,  and  thought  it  best  to  rent  our 
farm,  move  to  Chicjigo,  put  our  children  in  school  and 
trv  to  rest  for  a  year  or  two.  Our  oldest  son  had 
studied  medicine  for  two  years,  and  liad  attended 
medical  lectures  at  Cincinnati,  and  he  would  take  u]> 
the  practice  of  his  father,  and  we  could  rest  and 
recruit  our  health.  But  contrary  to  our  anticipations 
or  calculations,  my  husband  went  into  a  large  ])ractice, 
but  his  health  improved,  and  the  last  year  of  our  stay 
there  his  practice  was  worth  $2,500. 

"\Ve  moved  to  Chicago  December,  184^),  and  there 
were  but  two  M.  E,  churches  in  the  city  at  that  time. 
The  great  city  of  the  west  was  then  in  its  infancy, 
and  of  course  Methodism  was  weak.  The  old  Clark 
street  church  was  then  in  its  youth,  just  linished. 
Brother  Byan  was  there,  and  they  had  a  large  number 
of  excellent  members  such  as  Brother  and  Sister  Sliaw, 
Bro.  and  Sister  Wheeler,  Bro.  and  Sister  Shaddle, 
Bro.  and  Sister  Lyman,  Bro.  and  Sister  Lunt,  Bro. 
and  Sister  Whitehead,  with  many  others  wlmse  names 
I  cannot  recall. 

Jjrother  S.  Bolles  presided  over  the  old  Canal  street 
charge,  and  labored  with  all  his  untiring  zeal  and 
energy.  There  was  a  large  membership  there  also, 
some  of  the  excellent  <>f  tlie  earth,  such  as  Brother 
and  Sister  Shermen,  Bro.  and  Sister  George,  Bro.  and 
Sister  Wisencraft,  Bro.  and  Sister  Hagan,  Hm.  and 
Sister  Webb,  i>ro.  and  Sister  Kettlestring,  and  dear 
Sister  Brown,  her  husband  having  passed  over  the 


150  EECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

river  of  death,  and  entered  the  Church  Triumphant 
a  few  weeks  before  our  arrival  in  Chicago.  Brother 
and  Sister  Brown  were  the  same  (of  early  memory)  at 
Light  House  Point.  Our  names  were  attached  to 
the  Canal  street  charge.  I  was  placed  in  Brother 
Wisencraft's  class,  and  he  was  a  faithful  leader.  My 
husband  was  installed  as  a  leader,  and  placed  on  the 
official  board.  And  indeed  we  were  a  live  church, 
alive  to  duty,  and  how  sweetly  we  lived  and  worshipped 
together. 

The  old  Fort  still  stood  in  Chicago,  and  how  I  felt 
when  I  looked  upon  it  and  thought  of  the  time 
when  Father  AValker  visited  us  in  Springheld  (he 
then  had  charge  of  the  mission  there)  and  remember- 
ing how  deeply  he  was  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  planting  gospel  seed  there,  and  especially  of  planting- 
it  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  M.  E.  church, 
and  the  deep  interest  he  manifested  while  he  told  us 
about  his  visits  to  the  old  Fort,  and  his  anticipations  in 
regard  to  the  place  becoming  a  great  city,  and  an  im- 
portant point  for  Methodism,  and  of  the  sermons  he 
had  preached  in  the  old  Fort,  wliile  all  around  was  an 
imcultivated  j^rairie ;  and  while  I  stood  there  I  looked 
over  the  beautiful  young  city,  and  I  cried  out,  ''AVliat 
has  God  wrought  here  since  Father  Walker  traveled  to 
this  mission  in  1831?  how  He  has  watered  the  seed 
that  has  been  sown  here ;  how  abundantly  it  has  pro- 
duced, not  only  an  hundred  fold,  but  a  thousand. 
Behold  what  a  great  matter  a  little  lire  kindlethi"  I 
would  say  to  the  gospel  minister,  ''In  the  morning  sow 
the  seed,  and  at  noon  withhold  not  thine  hand,"  but 
cry,  "Behold!  behold  the  Lamb!" 


FlioMIKR    LIFK.  1  "» 1 

AVe  had  ])n)tnu*te(l  et!'«»rt  and  iTvival  influence  evi'iy 
^vinter  while  we  remained  there,  and  the  work  deej)- 
ened  and  spread  every  year;  it  coukl  be  seen  and  felt 
thrc>u«,di  all  the  walks  of  business  life,  the  merchant, 
lawyer,  physician,  mechanic  and  day  laborer  demon- 
strated by  their  daily  walk  and  conversation  tliat  they 
had  been  with  Jesus,  and  we  enjoyed  sweet  Christian 
communion  at  the  old  tabenuicle  of  a  church,  and 
it  was  made  sacred  In'  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

Our  classes  and  prayer  meetings  were  such  as 
will  be  remembered  througli  eternity.  I  have  heard 
many  testify  at  the  love  feast  to  the  ])ardoning  mercy 
of  God,  and  speak  of  Brother  .l(»hn  (Mark  as  being  the 
instrument  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  whereby  they 
were  brought  to  a  knowledge  of  pardoned  sin;  others 
of  J3rother  IL  Crews,  and  of  Brother  Ryan,  and  one  I 
heard  sj)eak  of  the  first  class  meeting  ever  held  in 
Chicago,  his  name  I  cannot  I'ecollect.  He  told  me  the 
particulars  in  regard  to  the  meeting,  and  of  many 
inci<leuts  of  the  mission,  the  Indians,  etc.  lie  had 
lived  in  the  Fort  at  the  time  he  spoke  of.  Well  might 
we  say,  ''AVhat  hath  Lord  wrought  in  that  l>eautiful 
city  since  18501" — that  was  the  year  we  left  it. 

My  husband  and  four  oldest  sons  left  for  California 
while  I  and  my  four  youngest  children  started  for  Mt. 
Morris,  Illinois.  Oh  I  that  unfortunate  year,  how 
many  broken  hearted  mothers  and  or])haned  children 
it  made  I  how  many  sacred  family  ties  were  sun- 
dered I  how  many  characters  and  constitutions  were 
ruined!  and  how  much  money  was  lost  in  seeking 
after  sordid  •'old  eternitv  onlv  will  reveal.  lUit  I  am 
thankful    to    sav,    mv   husband   and   sons,   (although 


152  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

they  lost  everything  in  worldly  goods)  came  home 
better  men  for  having  been  to  California;  they  learned 
valuable  lessons  there  that  they  could  never  have 
learned  anywhere  else.  They  seemed  to  have  a  more 
abiding  trust  in  the  Lord.  I  have  never  heard  of  so 
many  going  out  of  any  one  family  and  all  returning" 
alive. 

Among  the  many  tokens  of  kindness  and  comforts 
that  I  provided  for  them,  I  made  u])  a  suit  of  burial 
clothes,  and  while  I  was  putting  them  up  and  bedew- 
ing them  with  tears,  I  recollect  of  offering  up  a  fer- 
vent prayer  to  Him  who  doeth  all  things  well,  that 
they  might  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  using  them, 
and  they  brought  them  back  to  me  without  having 
undone  them,  and  my  husband  said  to  me,  "Mother, 
here  is  the  bundle  you  gave  us,  and  said  we 
must  be  careful  of  them.  I  am  thankful  we 
did  not  need  them."  "Ohir  said  I,  "I  am  so 
thankful;  I  had  much  rather  you  would  bring 
them  back,  and  know  you  did  not  need  them^ 
moneyless  as  you  are,  than  to  have  had  one  of  your 
bodies  enrolled  in  them,  and  brought  me  a  bag  of  gold 
instead."  I  never  had  faith  to  pray  for  their  success 
in  getting  gold,  but  I  did  have  faith  and  did  pray 
fervently  that  the  Lord  would  spare  their  lives  and 
bring  them  safely  home,  and  this  prayer  was  answered. 

Praise  the  Lord!  I  am  thankful  that  it  ever  Avas 
written  that  "if  ye  ask  in  faith  ye  shall  receive."  Oh! 
how  comforting  the  grace  of  God  is  to  my  heart  in  all 
this  trial.  The  oldest  child  left  with  me  was  a  son, 
John  H.  Roe,  about  sixteen  years  old,  and  he  sought 
and  found  mercy  at  a  revival  at  the  good  old  semi- 


FKO-NTIKK    I.IKK. 


i:.:', 


nary,  and  "vvas  a  devoted  Christian,  i^ntwin*^  in  ^rueo 
every  day.  There  were  two  (hni<^diters  and  one  son 
son  younger.  We  kept  \i\>  the  family  altar,  and  we 
Biirronnded  it  and  poured  out  our  hearts  to  God,  our 
Redeemer,  iu  fervt^it  prayer  morning  and  evening  for 
sustaining  grace  and  their  safety,  he  (John)  leading  in 
prayer  one  time  and  I  the  next,  and  (),  h(>w  the  Lord 
blessed  us.  Oh  I  what  a  comfort  that  child  was  to  me 
in  that  season  of  trial.  Can  I  ever  cease  to  love  him, 
or  to  praise  the  Lord  for  giving  me  such  a  child  ^  Xo,. 
and  I  hope  to  praise  II im  in  eternity. 


i^ 


m 


m 

m 


^     -J 


M 


*«. 


154  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 


CHAPTEE   IX. 


RECOLLEOTIOXS    OF    PAYNES    POIXT. 

Whex  they  returned,  it  was  thought  best  to 
locate  on  a  farm  on  the  east  side  of  Rock  River  near 
Paynes  Point,  about  seven  miles  from  our  first  home 
in  Ogle  County.  Fifteen  years  previous,  my  husband 
helped  to  build  the  first  two  log  houses  which  were 
put  up  in  PajTies  Point.  They  still  stand  comfortable 
houses  yet,  and  were  tenanted  by  some  of  our 
best  citizens  when  we  came  to  the  Point  in  1851,  one 
by  Brother  Augustus  Austin. 

About  two  miles  east  of  the  Point,  on  the  old  road 
leading  from  Oregon,  seat  of  Ogle  County,  to 
Chicago,  we  built  a  comfortable  little  stone  house, 
and  moved  into  it  November  6tli. 

Our  old  friends  welcomed  us  back.  My  husband 
commenced  practicing,  with  his  usual  success,  the 
boys  to  improving  the  farm.  AVhen  we  came  to  the 
Point  there  was  a  small  class  there.  Our  names  were 
attached  to  it.  We  met  in  a  school  house,  with 
Brother  L.  Hitchcock  presiding  elder,  Brother  Wing, 


l'l{(»NTn:R    MKK.  155 

preacher  in  cliar^jce,  IJrotherrf  8uverei«(ii,  Wa<Ls\V(jrtli 
and  Cani])tiekl,  local  preachers  who  preached  jdter- 
nately,  so  we  had  i)reaching  every  Sabhath.  Here  1 
liave  heard  the  worthy  old  veteran  Father  Puffer 
preach.  He  was  stroni^  on  doctrinal  points.  Jlere  1 
heard  Brother  Canii)l)ell  preach,  then  a  local  preacher, 
but  formerly  a  preacher  on  Light  House  circuit.  I 
heard  him  preach  a  powerful  sermon  at  Paynes  P(»int 
two  or  three  years  previous,  when  J^rother  A.  Phelps 
was  preacher  in  charge.  1  think  that  Brother  L.  G. 
"Walker  took  the  Point  into  the  itinerant  work  when 
he  was  traveling  Light  House  circuit.  In  answer  to 
a  request  from  Sister  Taylor,  George  Taylor's  wife,  I 
liave  heard  Brother  Shar]),  of  ('anada  Conference, 
then  local  preacher,  who  afterwards  moved  to  Cali- 
fornia,— preach  in  sister  Taylor's  cabin  in  early  times. 
Sister  Tavlor  was  a  woman  of  stronj;  faith,  verv 
exemplary  in  life,  lived  faithfully  and  died  a  hai)j>y 
death.  She  used  to  attend  meeting's  at  our  \o<^  cabin 
at  Light  House.  She  was  anxious  to  have  her  house 
taken  in  as  a  preaching  place  then,  the  circuit  was  so 
large,  but  the  circuit  was  cut  up  and  changed  so 
afterward,  that  J]rother  AValker  took  it  into  the 
charge. 

There  was  an<jther  family  l>y  the  name  of  Taylor 
who  were  useful  in  those  early  days  in  planting 
^lethodism  at  the  Point.  Mother  Taylor  was  a 
huml)le,  exemplary  Christian.  Her  pravers  went  up 
like  iioly  incense  to  11  im  who  licareth  })rayer,  that 
there  might  be  people  there  whose  hearts  were  tixed 
Ui  serve  the  J.ord,  that  there  might  be  a  church 
erected  thei-e.      And  her  prayers  were  answered.      She 


156  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

lived  to  see  it  and  enjoy  its  privileges  in  her  last  days. 
She  was  nearly  ninety  years  of  age.  I  saw  her  not 
long  before  she  departed,  at  a  quarterly  meeting,  she 
was  exulting  in  redeeming  grace  and  dying  love. 
She  spoke  of  the  comforts  of  religion  along  the 
journey  of  her  long  life,  and  her  prospects  of  enter- 
ing into  rest,  and  a  few  months  afterward  she  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus. 

I  think  the  first  revival  influence  at  Paynes  Point 
was  through  the  instrumentality  of  Brother  Wing,  the 
winter  previous  to  our  removal  there.  There  were  a 
number  of  converts,  among  Avhom  was  Sister  Eleanor 
Gray  Taylor,  George  Taylor's  oiily  daughter,  who 
afterwards  married  my  third  son,  Giles  B.  Poe.  She 
was  received  into  full  connection  after  we  came  to  the 
Point  by  Brother  L.  Hitchcock,  at  quarterly  meeting 
held  in  the  grove.  She  was  a  faithful  Christian  until 
her  death,  which  took  place  on  the  10th  day  of 
January,  1863.  She  left  her  devoted  family  to  unite 
with  her  sainted  mother  to  praise  the  Lord  through 
eternity. 

Brother  Wardsworth,  a  local  preacher,  mentioned 
before,  was-  a  very  early  settler.  His  life  has  been 
mostly  devoted  to  the  local  ministry  of  the  M.  E. 
church.  In  his  house  the  itinerant  has  always  found 
a  welcome  home,  made  so  by  the  kind  hospitality  and 
Christian  spirit  of  him  and  his  devoted  wife,  Mary 
"Wardswortli.  Their  names  were  attached  to  this 
class  when  it  was  first  organized,  and  faithfully  have 
they  labored  to  build  up  and  sustain  the  church  of 
their  early  choice.  They  were  formerly  from  ^'ew 
York  State.      Thev  were  anxious  to  do  all  in   their 


IIM.NIII.K     UFK.  157 

power  to  build  up  Methudism  around  them;  Itut  now 
there  was  a  time  that  called  for  all  their  liberality  and 
energy.  There  must  be  a  ehureh  built  at  l*aynes 
Point,  the  little  school  house  would  not  hold  the 
con«^re<j:ation  any  lontj^er. 

Ih'other  Wardsworth  sitrned  liberally  and  circulated 
a  subscription  paper.  There  were  more  than  a  thous- 
and dollars  subscribed,  a  buildini^  conimittee  aj>point- 
ed,  Bros.  A.  Austin,  J.  Buttertield  and  AVardsworth, 
being  the  members  of  that  body,  and  they  went  at  it 
with  zeal  and  ener«:v.  The  lumber  was  to  Ije  hauled 
from  Itockford,  the  stone  to  be  dug  for  the  foundation, 
and  a  great  deal  of  hard  labor  to  be  done;  but  they 
had  some  faithful  co-workers,  and  it  was  accomplished, 
and  we  had  a  nice  large  church  standing  at  the  edge 
of  a  beautiful  grove,  looking  so  dignitied — a  credit  to 
the  builders,  to  the  neighborhood  and  the  Methodist 
church — and  now  it  was  to  be  furnished.  Sisters 
AVardsworth  and  Buttertield  took  a  horse  and  buggy 
and  went  from  place  to  place,  until  they  secured  the 
means  to  do  that,  and  the  church  was  dedicated,  the 
whole  cost  being  about  tifteen  hundred  dollars. 
The  remainder  was  raised  the  day  of  the  dedication, 
and  the  church  was  free. 

Brothers  L.  Hitchcock  and  11.  L.  Martin  were 
the  ]jreacliers  in  charge.  There  was  a  protracted 
meeting  continued  from  the  dedication,  and  J:{rother 
Martin  labored  faithfully,  and  with  the  help  of  the 
local  brethren  the  meeting  continued  six  weeks.  It 
was  good  sleighing,  and  the  })eo])le  came  from  a 
distance.  The  house  was  crowded,  and  there  were 
scores  of  souls  brought  to  the  knowledge  of.  grace.    My 


158  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

fourth  son,  M.  C.  Eoe,  among  the  rest,  was  savingly 
converted  and  united  with  the  church. 

Most  of  these  converts  are  living  and  faithful.  Some 
of  them  have  gone  to  glory,  and  others  have  gone 
forth  to  bless  the  world,  with  an  orderly  walk,  and  a 
Christian  example,  while  others  remain  there  holding 
up  the  Christian  standard,  hoping  and  praying  for 
another  shower  of  mercy. 


%^^^^^., 


^^m^% 


PRONTIEK    LIFE.  159 


CHxVPTER  X. 


RPXOLLECTIONS    OF    ROCKFOKD     AMJ     oLli    NKW    lloMK    ( »N 
THE    riiAIRIK. 

Ill  June,  185(),  we  sold  our  new  liunie  at  Paynes 
Point  and  boutrlit  some  new  land  fartlier  east  about  live 
miles,  and  apiece  of  land  in  the  suburbs  of  the  beauti- 
ful city  of  Rockford,  and  built  us  a  nice  house,  and 
thought  we  would  settle  down  there  and  enjoy  social 
and  relii^ious  life  in* our  declinint^  years,  as  we  had 
battled  long  with  frontier  life. 

AVhen  we  lirst  knew  liockford  it  was  nothing  more 
than  the  Rocky  ford  of  Rock  riyer,  with  a  few  log 
houses  near  it,  but  now  it  was  a  beautiful  city.  But 
I  remember  that  those  log  houses,  some  of  them,  were 
built  and  occupied  by  praying  people,  one  by  Brother 
and  Sister  Samuel  Grej^ory,  another  by  Brother  and 
Sister  David  Beers.  Another  faithful  servant  of  the 
Most  High  was  Sister  Enoch.  Long  and  fervently 
did  she  pray  and  labor  for  the  prosperity  of  Zion,  and 
es]>ecially  the  church  of  Rockford,  and  the  Lord  per- 
mitted her  to  see  it  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose,  and 
she  passed  over  in  triumph  to  the  Promised  Land. 


160  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Those  live  persons  constituted  tlie  iirst  class  organ- 
ized at  Eocky'Ford  in  1836.  It  was  formed  by  Bro. 
Wm.  Kojal,  then  traveling  on  the  Fox  River  Mission. 
If  I  mistake  not  he  formed  a  class  at  Belvidere,  and 
Brother  and  Sister  Mason  formed  a  part  of  that  class. 
How  faithful  and  diligent  were  our  frontier  ministers 
in  hunting  up  the  lambs  of  the  fold,  forming  classes, 
and  appointing  leaders  who,  like  good  shepherds,  led 
them  to  living  streams  and  into  green  pastures,  while 
they  inspired  them  to  faithful  endurance,  amid  all  the 
difficulties  and  hardships  of  frontier  life,  and  together 
they  were  enabled  to  hold  up  the  standard  of  truth, 
which  is  mighty,  and  will  always  prevail.  Great  will 
be  their  reward. 

These  dear  brethren  at  Rockyford  had  their  family 
altar  erected  in  their  little  log  cabins,  and  had  their 
weekly  prayer  meetings.  They  poured  out  their  souls 
to  Him  who  heareth  and  answereth  the  fervent  prayer 
of  faith,  and  sent  them  a  preacher.  Brother  Royal 
sought  and  found  them,  and  left  them  an  appoint- 
ment: this  encouraged  them  very  much.  The  first  I 
learned  of  them,  as  a  regular  charge,  was  in  1838, 
then  it  was  embraced  in  the  Chicago  district.  Brother 
John  Clark,  presiding  elder,  L.  S.  Walker,  preacher 
in  charge.  These  brothers  did  much  to  sustain 
Methodism  in  Rockford  that  year.  I  have  heard 
Brother  Gregory  speak  of  them  and  many  others  of 
the  early  Methodists  of  Rockford. 

The  preaching  of  the  AVord  was  blessed,  the  class 
increased  rapidly,  and  when  Brother  Bolles  had  charge 
of  the  circuit  they  had  a  gracious  revival,  and  they 
were  enabled  to  build  a  nice  brick  church,  and  there 


FRONTIKK    I-IFK.  U)l 

are  still  many  of  the  stamlanl-heaivrs  holdiiiix  <>n  to 
the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints. 

The  first  winter  1  lived  in  Rockford  was  a  season 
of  threat  revival  in  the  First  ^fethodist  chnrch,  as  yet 
the  only  one  there.  There  were  scores  of  sonls  brought 
into  the  fold  of  God  that  winter;  many  are  now 
pillars  in  the  church.  Brother  Heed  in  charge, 
preached  in  the  power  and  demonstration  of  the 
spirit.  Every  word  seemed  to  be  seasoned  with 
grace  and  sanctilied  to  the  hearers'  benefit,  saint  and 
sinner,  and  the  work  prospered,  and  the  people 
devised  trreat  thini^s,  and  s«>on  the  Oourt  Street  church 
Avas  built,  and  then  the  Third  Street,  and  now  another 
in  South  Rockford,  and  their  membership  now  num 
bers  al)out  twelve  hundred  persons.  Soon  they  will 
need  another. 

These  churches  have  been  blest  with  seasons  of 
revivals.  May  the  Head  of  the  church  still  be  with 
them,  and  the  heralds  of  grace  preach  the  pure  old 
Methodist  doctrine  ''  Salvation  by  faith  on  the  Son  of 
God,"  and  there  will  be  a  sacred  hallow  shedding  its 
sacred  influence  over  the  surrounding  country,  fi'om 
the  Rockford  station.  It  is  a  beautiful  growing  city, 
and  I  attribute  much  of  its  prosperity  and  success  to 
the  piety  of  its  early  inhabitants.  To  God  be  all  the 
glory! 

After  we  jrot  settled  in  Rockford,  we  did  not  feel 
altogether  satisfied.  We  felt  as  though  we  were  not 
occupying  tlie  right  ground  exactly,  and  concluded 
to  Come  out  and  improve  our  new  land.  It  was 
situated  in  the  southeast  })art  of  White  Rock  Town- 
.<hi]»,  a])out  six  miles  north  <>f  Lane  Station,  and  one 


162  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

mile  from  the  road  leading  from  Lane  Station  to 
Rockford.  ^Ve  built  a  small  house  and  moved  into 
it.  There  were  but  a  few  neighbors,  no  class,  and  not 
even  a  school  house  to  worship  in.  At  Lane  Station 
there  was  a  small  class  but  no  church,  they  worshipped 
in  the  district  school  house.  AVe  were  again  on 
missionary  ground.  AVe  handed  our  letters  back  to 
Paynes  Point  charge,  and  the  friends  gave  us  a  warm 
welcome.  I  told  the  Doctor  this  looked  like  frontier 
life  again.  '•  But,"'  said  I,  '•  we  will  have  a  church 
here  some  time.-'  And  he  replied,  ''  It  does  not 
look  much  like  it  now."  "I  have  seen  worse 
chances  than  this  for  a  church,''  I  again  said. 
''  Oh  I  ye  of  little  faith,  believe  and  ye  shall  re- 
ceive.'' 

That  fall  there  was  a  school  house  built  in  the 
adjoining  district,  and  in  the  spring  we  prevailed 
upon  Brother  Wardsworth,  whom  I  mention  in  the 
preceeding  chapter,  to  give  us  an  appointment  and 
see  if  we  could  o^et  a  concrrecration.  He  left  an 
appointment,  and  the  seats  of  the  school  house  were 
comfortably  filled,  and  they  manifested  so  much 
interest  that  Brother  AVardsworth  left  another 
appointment,  although  he  had  to  travel  thirteen  miles. 
The  congregation  increased,  and  he  continued  his 
appointments,  once  in  four  weeks.  In  the  winter 
following,  he  labored  in  the  revival  at  Paynes  Point. 
In  the  spring  he  sent  us  another  appointment,  and  by 
this  time  there  were  a  good  many  moved  in,  and  our 
school  house  was  filled.  Brother  Wardsworth  was 
quite  encouraged,  and  said  he  wished  some  of  the 
circuit   preachers   would  take  us  into  their   charge. 


FRONTIKIi    l.IKK.  1(13 

either  the  Lane  chart^e,  or  Lvnnville  char«i:e,  which  lies 
still  north  of  us. 

The  doctor  saw  the  preachers  on  1)oth  cliari^es,  and 
urt^ed  them  to  come  and  })reach  ft)r  us,  hut  they 
thought  it  impossible,  l^rother  AVardsworth  would 
say  to  us  scjnietimes,  ^' Well,  Brother  and  Sister  lv«je, 
this  seems  something  like  your  early  pioneer  life,  does 
it  not?  away  out  here,  without  any  church  or  any  of 
your  classmates r^  I  replied,  ''Yes,  it  does,  hut  we 
are  on  the  stepstone  of  better  days;  we  shall  have  a 
meeting  house  here  sometime."  lie  and  the  doctor 
would  huuAi  at  me  and  say,  by  way  of  enc<»urairin;r 
me,  "  It  is  a  long  way  ahead;  I  fear  we  Avont  get  one 
in  Lane."  '* You'll  see,"  was  my  reply,  ''  I  have  faith 
to  believe." 

The  first  year  we  were  here,  Father  Hayes  built 
across  the  road  from  us.  This  was  a  comfort  to  us, 
for  they  were  old  and  tried  friends  of  ours  in  this 
new  country,  although  we  had  lived  most  of  the  time 
ten  or  twelve  miles  apart.  Brother  ILiyes  was  a 
meml>er  of  the  Paynes  Point  charge,  and  had  given 
liberally  to  the  building  of  the  new  church  at  that 
place,  as  well  as  ourselves.  To  live  so  near  t()gether 
was  a  privilege  that  we  enjoyed.  Their  children  were 
settled  near,  and  made  a  good  share  of  our  c<»nirrega- 
tion. 

That  fall  the  doctor  and  I  went  to  our  last  (quarterly 
meeting  at  the  Point,  and  besought  Brother  IL  L. 
Martin  to  i*epresent  us  at  the  Conference  and  try  and 
get  us  attached  to  the  Lane  charge.  Brother  Hannah 
was  sent  to  that  charge  with  an  appointment  for  Koto's 
>L-ho<»]  house,     lie  preached  for  us  once  in  two  weeks. 


16tl:  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

He  formed  a  class,  and  there  were  twelve  persons 
united.  He  labored  with  us  two  years  with  great 
acceptability. 

Brother  Wardsworth  promised  ns  a  protracted  meet- 
ting,  and  I  think  in  the  latter  part  of  October  he  com- 
menced the  meeting.  Brother  Hannah  preached  and 
Brother  Wardsworth  exhorted  and  conducted  the 
prayer  meetings ;  he  also  yisited  every  family  within 
two  miles  of  the  school  house,  and  there  was  a  great 
turn  out  of  attentive  hearers,  and  the  seed  fell  in  good 
soil,  and  produced  good  fruit,  and  there  was  a  general 
awakening  and  quite  a  number  of  conyerts,  among 
them  Brother  and  Sister  Emory  Hayes,  Sister  Eliza- 
beth Hayes,  Brother  Hiram  Hayes'  wife,  and  one  of 
Eather  Hayes'  daughters  who  lived  at  home,  Miss 
Minnie,  and  John  Gilcrist,  a  young  man  who  lived 
at  Father  Hayes',  Brother  David  Hayes'  wife,  Mary 
Ann,  and  our  youngest  daughter,  Frances  Maria  Boe, 
united  w^ith  us,  and  we  felt  it  quite  an  accession  to  our 
little  class.  Father  Hayes  was  like  the  good  old  patri- 
arch, ready  to  say,  "  iSTow,  dear  Lord,  let  me  depart  in 
peace,  I  haye  seen  all  my  children  converted."  Oh  I 
what  joy  we  felt  in  this  token  of  mercy ;  and  now, 
when  1  talked  about  a  meeting  house,  they  were  not 
quite  so  doubtful. 

Bro.  Hannah  was  with  us  two  years,  and  labored 
faithfully  in  word  and  doctrine,  and  now  the  brethren 
began  to  talk  of  building  a  church  in  Lane — they  had 
built  a  small  parsonage. 

Bro.  Brookens  came  on  tlie  circuit  and  went  to 
work  with  his  usual  zeal  and  energy,  and  had  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  at  the  school  house  that  winter.     It 


FKoNTIKli    LIFE.  165 

was  attended  with  much  good,  there  being  several 
cuiiversioiis.  Among  them  were,  Jolin  Conlin,  l^ro. 
and  Sister  Mills,  wlio  united  with  our  class.  The  next 
year  Ih-o.  Brookens  returned  to  Lane  and  had  a 
])rotracted  meeting  in  the  basement  of  the  clnirch, 
that  part  of  the  edifice  being  completed — the  up})er 
portion  was  not  yet  finished.  The  meeting  resulted 
well,  there  being  a  number  of  conversions. 

The  next  year  Bro.  Plum  labored  with  us,  but  there 
was  no  revival  that  veai*.  The  next  year,  lamented 
Bro.  Crackeren  labored  with  us,  preached  faithfully, 
but  no  revival.  The  year  following  Bro.  Page  was 
with  us.  lie  was  a  fine  speaker  and  a  strong 
reasoner.  He  commenced  a  protracted  meeting  in 
our  school  house.  The  weather  was  very  unfavorable, 
yet  much  good  attended  the  effort.  There  were  three 
conversions,  and  four  accessions  by  letter  from  the 
Congregational  church. 

During  those  years  we  had  three  quarterly  meetings 
in  our  school  house,  the  first,  while  Bro.  Ilannali  was 
with  us,  Bro.  Kease  ])residing  elder.  I  well  recollect 
a  remark  he  made  when  we  drove  up  with  a  two-horse 
wagon  with  a  tal)le  and  the  preparations  for  the  sacra- 
ment, quite  like  old  frontier  life.  The  doctor  was 
away  from  home,  and  as  he  was  steward  and  class 
leader,  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  ]>rei)are  and  take  those 
things. 

The  next  was  while  J>ro.  Brookens  was  with  us, 
Bro.  Jewett  ])residing  elder.  He  was  there  in  due 
time.  I  saw  him  take  his  shawl,  roll  it  up,  and  {)ut 
it  into  the  window  opj)osite  the  stand  where  a  pane  of 
irlass  had  been  broken  out.     Oh  I  hi>w  mortitie<l  I  felt. 


166  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

I  offered  a  fervent  prayer  to  the  Lord  to  open  the 
way  whereby  we  might  huxe  a  comfortable  place  to 
worship  in.  lie  could  not  preach  Avith  that  cold  air 
rushing  in  upon  him;  but  oh  I  what  a  sermon  he  did 
preach  for  us,  with  his  blanket  shawl  for  a  defence.  I 
then  began  to  talk  more  earnestly  about  building  a 
meeting  house,  but  it  was  thought  quite  impossible, 
while  they  were  building  at  Lane. 

The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  held  while  Bro. 
Page  was  with  us,  Bro.  John  Gibson,  presiding  elder. 
The  school  house  was  too  small,  and  we  went  to  a 
beautiful  grove  near  by.  Bro.  Gibson  preached  in  the 
spirit,  and  the  Word  was  borne  home  to  the  hearts  of 
some.  Bro.  Page  called  for  mourners  and  there  were 
a  few  went  forward  for  prayers.  This  was  the  last 
quarterly  meeting  Bro.  Gibson  held  on  our  circuit. 

Previous  to  this  meeting  there  was  a  subscription 
paper  circulated  for  a  meeting  house  in  our  neighor- 
hood,  as  the  Lane  church  was  finished  and  dedicated. 
The  doctor  told  the  brethren  and  friends  that  he 
would  give  one  hundred  dollars  and  a  site  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  his  farm  if  they  would  accept  of 
it,  and  the  subscription  was  circulated  with  the  view 
of  its  being  built  there,  and  there  were  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  subscribed,  and  a  building  committee 
appointed,  but  they  concluded  that  the  doctor's  site 
would  not  answer;  they  would  have  to  have  a  north  or 
west  front,  and  they  preferred  a  south  front.  And 
now  Bro.  H.  Hayes  offered  a  site  for  a  south  front, 
and  he  being  one  of  the  building  committee,  he  took 
the  oversight  of  the  building,  and  it  was  hurried  to 
speedy  completion. 


FRONTIKK    LIFi:.  1»M 

The  cunference  of  18()4:  sent  our  much  esteeintMl 
friend  and  Bro.  L.  S.  AV^alker  (of  early  memory)  to  the 
Lane  cliar<;e.  He  came  on  and  we  welcomed  him 
with  all  our  hearts,  and  it  brought  the  fond  recollec- 
tions of  former  days,  when  the  Lord  was  precious,  and 
we  enjc>yed  sweet  Christian  communion  together,  as 
well  as  social  relations  with  him  and  his  dear  family 
when  they  lived  in  the  little  hrick  parsonage  near  our 
home  at  Light  House  Point.  AV^e  prayed  most 
fervently  that  the  Lord  would  make  them  useful  on 
our  charge.  He  commenced  his  labors  with  a  Chris- 
tian confidence  and  a  sweet  reliance  on  IHm  who  had 
been  his  shield  and  strength  for  lo!  these  many  years, 
lio]ung  and  praying  that  the  Lord  would  revive  his 
work  all  through  the  charge.  There  were  then  four 
appointments. 

Our  church  was  near  completion  when  he  arrived, 
and  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  forward  it,  and  it  was 
linished  and  dedicated  on  the  12th  day  of  January, 
LS05.  The  dedication  services  were  conducted  by 
Kev.  M.  Raymond,  of  Evanston.  There  was  a  i)ower 
in  his  sermon  that  reached  every  heart.  The  house 
was  crowded. 

Tlie  building  committee  reported  a  deficiency  of 
^1,200.  This  was  in  consecpience  of  the  rise  in  build- 
ing material  and  the  price  of  labor.  It  was  made  up 
in  a  short  time,  and  the  dedicatory  cerenu>nies  was 
conducted  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  and  I  felt  that 
the  house  was  the  Lord*s,  and  my  heart  said,  "Amen; 
jiraise  the  Lord  I  I  have  seen  the  desire  of  my  lieart." 
And  I  felt  in  that  hour  that  the  Lord  would  revive 
His  work  in  that  sacred  ])lace. 


168  EECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

Bro.  AValker  made  an  effort  just  then  for  a  pro- 
tracted meeting,  but  owing  to  bad  weather,  and  other 
obstacles,  it  was  not  prosecuted,  although  there  was 
some  good  done.  We  passed  through  that  conference 
year  with  a  good  state  of  religious  feeling,  our  congre- 
gation increasing  all  the  while. 

Bro.  Walker  preached  many  faithful  sermons  for 
us,  and  the  conference  of  1865  returned  him  to  the 
Lane  charge.  He  was  well  received  and  preached 
with  great  earnestness,  and  seemed  to  have  the  weight 
of  souls  on  his  heart.  He  promised  us  a  protracted 
meeting  in  the  fall,  but  there  were  hindrances  with  the 
farmers  until  about  the  20th  of  January,  ^66,  then 
our  meeting  commenced.  The  preaching  and  praying 
were  fervent,  the  congregation  increasing,  and  was 
mostly  made  up  of  the  heads  of  young  families  and 
young  people.  There  were  many  of  the  congrega- 
tion who  were  powerfully  awakened,  but  were  not 
willing  to  come  out  and  take  a  stand  for  the  Lord. 
Bro.  Walker  told  them  from  the  pulpit,  what  he 
thought,  and  urged  upon  them  the  great  responsibility 
that  rested  upon  them  while  they  stood  in  the  way  of 
others.  Our  beloved  Bro.  Begle  was  with  a  local 
brother  who  belonged  to  the  Lane  class,  also  Bro. 
Haymaker;  they  both  labored  with  great  acceptabil- 
ity. These  local  brethren  had  labored  with  great 
success  in  our  other  protracted  efforts,  and  while  Bro. 
Walker  urged  these  responsibilities  upon  the  congre- 
gation, having  given  the  opportunity  to  kneel  at 
the  altar  for  prayer  Bro.  Wm.  H.  Kingw^alked  forward 
to  the  altar,  and  said,  "  Xow,  my  dear  friends,  I  want 
you  to  pray  for  me,  I  am  in  earnest,  I  want  to  seek 


FRONTIER    LIKK.  169 

the  Lord,  I  fear  /  am  in  tlie  way  of  others,  and  if  so, 
I  want  to  get  ont  of  the  way."  And  as  he  advanced 
still  neai-er  the  altar,  he  said,  "  Now,  my  dear  friends, 
if  you  follow  me,  you  will  follow  me  to  the  good 
World,  for  hy  the  grace  of  God  I  mean  to  find  it.'- 
And  he  knelt  down,  and  one  after  another  and  still 
another  of  his  friends  followed  him,  until  there  were 
quite  a  number.  Then  the  c<»ngregatioH  knelt  in 
fervent  prayer.  ()]il  what  earnestness  was  felt  and 
manifested  there  on  that  sacred  spot  which  had  so 
lately  been  dedicated  to  the  ^[ost  High.  Oh  I  what 
emotion  filled  the  hearts  of  those  wlio  had  watched 
every  expression  manifested  l>y  those  dear  friends  ;ind 
kind  neighbors  whom  we  had  ]U"ayed  for  so  long  and 
felt  so  anxious  they  should  come  and  taste  the  joys  of 
pardoning  love,  and  what  joy  we  felt,  as  one  after 
another  they  arose  and  spoke  of  the  goodness  of  God 
in  sparing  them;  to  see  that  sacred  sight  and  then 
speak  of  the  joys  of  salvati(.>n  and  their  resolutions  to 
serve  the  L<jrd  all  their  days.  The  cloud  was  broken, 
and  victory  was  on  Israel's  side. 

From  that  time  on  for  as  much  as  live  weeks,  the 
altar  was  crowded  with  mourners  every  night.  AVe 
held  noon-day  ])rayer  meetings,  and  they  were 
precious  seasons.  There  we  heard  the  young  convert 
tell  of  the  joy  in  believing  on  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
hear  one  after  another  say,  "The  Lord  has  converted 
my  children,  my  father,  my  motht'r,  my  sister  and 
brother  and  my  neighbor.''  And  so  on;  and  there 
wrestle  ''Jacob-like"  until  the  blessing  came,  and  the 
Saviour  gave  us  His  new  and  ln'st  name,  Love. 

The  w^ork  went  on  and  <»n,  until  everv  house  in  the 


170 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF 


neigliborliood  became  a  house  of  prayer;  and  the 
accessions  to  our  class  were  over  seventy  persons,  and 
we  hope  they  will  live  faithful  and  be  triumphant  in 
death.  Some  of  the  converts  joined  other  churches, 
the  Baptist  and  the  Presbyterian. 

Ero.  AVeller,  the  Presbyterian  minister,  came  uj^ 
from  Lane,  and  preached  fur  us  several  times,  and 
when  the  meetings  closed  there  were  three  classes 
formed  and  prayer  meetings  appointed  for  different 
places,  where  there  were  several  conversions.  Two 
years  have  elapsed  and  the  most  of  them  are  faithful 
members  yet,  and  to  Him  who  hath  loved  us  and 
washed  us  in  His  atoning  blood,  be  Glory  and  Do- 
minion forever  I 


FRONTIKK    LIFK.  171 


CHAPTER  XL 


VISIT    TO    NKIJRASKA. 

We  left  our  new  home,  as  we  called  it  in  a  fiu-iner 
chapter,  situated  on  a  beautiful  prairie  in  Ogle  county. 
White  It<jek  to^\^lship,  six  miles  north  of  Rochelle,  on 
the  twelfth  day  of  June,  lSt>8 — the  next  day  after  I 
was  C3  years  old,  and  the  doctor  in  his  68th  year, 
would  be  08  on  the  :^Oth  day  oi  August.  We  got  our 
tickets  and  were  seated  in  a  splendid  car  on  the  great 
Xorthwestern  railroad  leading  from  Chicago  to  Omaha. 
Xebraska,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

We  had  just  sold  our  new  home  for  four  thousand 
dollars,  and  felt  it  our  (hity  to  lay  out  at  least  a  part 
of  it  in  land  in  Xebraska,  and  now  started  tliere  for 
that  ])urj)Ose,  and  to  visit  two  sons  who  resided  in 
Iowa  near  Cedar  lliipids.  I  assure  you,  kind  friends,  we 
did  not  leave  that  comfortable  home  wliere  we  had 
resided  for  a  number  of  years  without  deej)  emotion. 
The  last  child  had  gone  <»ut  and  left  us  to  ])attle  witli 
life's  cares  alone,  while  tiny  made  a  Imnu*  for  them- 
selves   and    families,    and    tliev     were    settle<l     some 


172  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

distance  from  us,  and  we  were  lonely,  and  thought 
we  would  lay  out  a  good  part  of  the  money  we  had 
in  land,  and  part  in  improvements,  and  try  to  draw 
our  children  to  a  new  country  where  we  might  all  be 
united  in  our   efforts   to  do  good  and  derive  good. 

With  this  great  desire  we  started,  but  not  without 
a  pang  of  regret  at  leaving  the  pleasant  home  where 
we  had  supposed  we  would  most  likely  spend  the 
remnant  of  our  days;  where  we  had  seen  the  great 
wild  prairie  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose ;  where  the 
Lord  had  converted  so  many  of  our  dear  kind  neigh- 
bors, and  the  last  one  of  our  dear  children  whom  we 
had  prayed  for  so  anxiously  for  years;  where  we  had 
had  many  struggles  with  the  enemy,  always  obtaining 
the  victory  through  divine  grace,  all  of  which  cost 
some  effort,  I  assure  you,  and  had  we  not  felt  that  it 
was  our  duty  to  go  forward  we  should  have  given  it 
up.  But  we  felt  that  we  were  in  the  path  of  duty,  and 
that  our  Heavenly  Father  was  leading  and  directing 
us. 

Having  learned  by  long  experience  that  the  path- 
way of  duty  is  always  the  pathway  of  safety,  we  felt 
that  we  leaned  upon  the  Arm  that  moved  the  uni- 
verse, and  we  went  forward.  And  I  must  say  that 
while  my  dear  husband  and  I  walked  around  the 
place  to  take  a  last  look  at  what  was  our  once  happy 
home,  but  wdiich  we  had  now  sold  to  another,  that 
there  was  such  a  spirit  of  thanks  and  praise  and 
humble  gratitude  to  our  Heavenly  Parent  pervaded 
our  souls  that  we  scarcely  felt  a  tint  of  sorrow  in 
parting  with  it.  My  husband  said,  "Oh!  mother, 
how  good  the  Lord  has  been  to  grant  us  the  desire  of 


M^•^^F^;R   mkk.  173 

our  heart  in  tlie  coiivi'r>i<>u  uf  our  kind  nei^dihors  iind 
cliildren,  and  ])erniittin»;  us  to  see  tliat  neat  little 
church  huilt  and  honored  with  the  conversion  of  many 
souls  in  it.  And  n«»w,  if  we  «,'o  willin^dy  and  ha])j)ily 
to  Xehraska  we  may  see  all  there  that  we  ha\e  here." 
"  But  I  fear  not,"  said  I,  *'we  are  getting  old." 

^'But,-'  said  he,  '' many  of  our  friends  th(»u«,dit  it 
impossible  we  would  ever  see  this  orchard  hear,  but 
see  what  lovely  fruit  we  have,  and  we  may  live  to 
liave  it  there.  The  Lord  always  blesses  the  diligent 
hand,  and  I  feel  almost  as  willing  and  able  to  work  a.s 
I  ilid  when  we  began  here.  So  we  will  i)ut  our  trust 
in  the  Lord  and  go  forward." 

"  But,"  said  I,  ''don't  you  regret  to  leave  this  nice 
farm  where  we  have  taken  so  much  comf<jrt  and  done 
so  much  hard  work?" 

'Oh,  no;  the  Lord  lias  blessed  our  labors  here,  and 
He  will  bless  us  there  if  we  put  our  trust  in  llim. 
AVe  have  labored  hard  to  make  it  comfortable;  we 
have  enjoyed  it,  and  I  hope  they  will." 

"Pa."  said  I,  "those  are  my  sentiments  exactly." 
And  we  never  mentit>ned  our  nice  home  attain.  We 
got  our  business  arranged,  and  started  as  remarked  at 
the  beginning  of  this  chaj)ter,  and  went  on  our  way 
rejoicing. 

It  was  thout'ht  best  that  our  vouui^est  son,  Malconi 
C.  Roe,  who  was  pnicticing  medicine  with  his  father, 
should  go  with  us,  and  we  found  it  very  })leasant  t«.» 
have  him  seated  at  our  side  in  the  car. 

AVe  traveled  very  ])leasantly — the  cars  were  heavily 
loaded — and  safely  through  a  lovely  country;  crosseil 
the   Mississippi    river   on   the   new    bridge    in    safety 


174  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

although  it  creaked  so  we  were  somewhat  alarmed; 
passed  through  Clinton,  then  a  nice  flourishing  city, 
and  many  other  pleasant  towns,  and  arrived  at  the 
large  and  prosperous  city  of  Cedar  Rapids.  They  left 
some  cars  there,  and  we  went  wdiirling  on  to  Fairfax 
station,  eight  miles  farther  on.  We  got  off  on  the 
platform  just  as  the  clock  struck  two — there  was  no 
depot — and  found  our  way  as  best  we  could  by  inquir- 
ing. There  came  up  quite  a  severe  shower  just  as  we 
left  the  car,  and  we  stopped  under  an  awning  in  front 
of  a  store,  and  a  dog  rushed  out  and  commenced  bark- 
ing furiously,  and  I  was  very  much  frightened  for 
fear  they  would  shoot  us  for  burglars ;  but  they  heard 
us  talking  and  calmed  down.  We  went  to  the  store 
in  the  morning  and  had  a  good  laugh  over  our 
burglar  scare.  The  shower  ceased,  and  we  found  our 
children  next  door. 

We  were  much  pleased  to  meet  them  and  find  them 
well.  The  other  sons  lived  but  a  few  miles  distant — 
the  eldest  IT.  C.  Roe,  a  physician  and  local  preacher, 
the  younger,  Mathey  C.  Roe,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but 
was  just  commencing  on  a  farm — had  just  finished 
Fairview  church.  Since  he  came  to  the  neighbor- 
hood he  had  formed  a  class  and  was  its  leader;  had 
built  a  church,  and  had  preaching  regularly  every 
Sabbath  only  about  one  year  and  a  half.  Well  done 
for  a  new  country,  thought  we.  The  oldest  son 
preached  for  us  Sabbath,  and  we  had  a  good  class- 
meeting,  and  we  enjoyed  the  sermon  very  much. 

Monday  morning  the  train  was  on  time,  and  we 
went  on  our  way  rejoicing.  The  weather  was  lovely; 
the  lields  were  waving  with  grain,  promising  thirty  or 


KKONTIKR    I.IKi:.  175 

forty  biislicls  U*  the  acre.  AVe  were  verv  nnich 
pleased  to  notice  tliat  in  alnuKst  every  dei)ot  town 
tliere  was  at  least  one,  and  sometimes  two  or  three 
nice  small  churches,  and  one  good  school  house.  This 
spoke  well  iov  the  enterprise  and  thrift  of  the  j>eople 
of  our  new  country.  Even  Fairfax,  alth()Ugh  it  was 
a  small  place,  was  struggling  to  build  two  new 
churches.  I  feared  there  would  he  sc»nie  strife 
among  them,  hut  ho])ed  that  it  would  he  nothing  more 
than  good  religious  zeal  and  energy,  each  aspiring  to 
do  the  most  good  in  the  shortest  time,  and  I  i)rayed 
the  Lord  t«>  help  them  in  their  efforts  to  promote  His 
glory  and  save  pi-ecious  souls. 

^Vliile  at  Fairfax  we  attended  a  Sundav-school  pic 
nic — this  was  on  our  return  fn»m  the  far  west — as  a 
celebration  of  our  ^«ational  Independence,  that  was  a 
a  credit  to  the  new  settlement.  It  was  near  the  Fair- 
view  church,  and  was  managed  mostly  by  their  class 
and  Sabbath -school.  They  marched  in  a  column  from 
the  chureli  to  a  beautiful  grove  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  church.  Here  we  had  the  good  old  Declaration 
of  Independence  read  by  a  young  man  of  promising 
talent,  Mr.  Megar;  a  very  api)ropriate  speech  by  Rev. 
(rordon,  of  Cedar  Rapids;  good  music  by  the 
Keystone  choir,  and  a  splendid  dinner.  ^lany 
scholars  and  teachers,  and  a  large  company  of  very 
intelligent  ])eo])le  ])resent,  evinced  the  deep  solicitude 
felt  in  the  Sabbath-school  cause,  and  this  spirit  seemed 
to  pervade  the  whole  country. 

I  Would  not  fail  to  mention  that  Iowa  has  several 
splendid  literary  institutions  to  l)oast  «»f.  The  ^I«»unt 
Vernon,  the  oldest,  stands  on  a  beautiful  eminence, 


176  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

and  is  a  splendid  building.  A  beautiful  slope  fi'om 
the  railroad  to  the  college  pavement,  I  would  say,  is 
one  of  nature's  beauty  spots.  Energy  and  enterprise 
have  done  much  to  beautify  it,  and  the  very  scenery 
is  calculated  to  induce  study.  Long  may  it  live  to 
bless  this  redeemed  world!  We  also  saw  the  State 
Agricultural  College.  This  is  a  splendid  edifice,  and 
is  located  near  the  center  of  the  state.  The  building 
displays  a  great  deal  of  taste,  and,  as  it  stands  on  a 
beautiful  eminence,  we  had  a  nice  view  of  it  from 
the  train.  It  has  done  much  for  the  culture  of  the 
state.  y 

We  also  saw  a  small  tribe  of  Indians  near  the  Iowa 
river.  It  was  a  very  broken,  hilly  region,  such  as  we 
saw  nowhere  else  in  the  State.  Their  dirty  little 
huts  or  wigwams  were  huddled  together  in  little 
groups  on  the  hill  sides,  exhibiting  filth,  want  and 
destitution.  We  saw  a  number  of  squaws  hoeing 
corn  in  small  fields  or  patches  near  the  huts,  while 
the  Indians  lay  lounging  on  the  ground  or  sitting  on 
large  stumps,  covered  only  with  a  few  rags  and  their 
heads  all  trimmed  off  with  feathers.  When  the  cars 
j^assed  them  they  yelled  like  Indians.  The  car  win- 
dows were  crowded  full  to  see  them.  Oh  !  how  I 
pitied  those  poor  squaws,  and  the  whole  tribe  or  tribes, 
as  my  mind  glanced  at  the  contrast.  How  thankful 
we  should  be  that  we  live  in  a  gospel  land  and  among 
a  people  who  fear  the  Lord.  I  earnestly  pray  the 
Lord  that  some  means  may  be  devised  by  which  this 
great,  and  in  some  degree,  a  noble  race  may  be  brought 
under  the  influence  of  the  gospel  of  our  dear 
Redeemer,  and  into  the  covenant  of  grace.     What  a 


FKONTIKK    LIKK.  177 

cliaiitJ^e  it  wtnild   ])nKluce   in   tlieir   relations   to    each 
other,  to  the  world,  and  to  that  better  world. 

We  passe(f"on  over  nearly  two   liiindi-e<l    miU's    in 

that  dark  night,  only  knowing  that  we  were  j)assing 

over  i)rairie  country,  over  l)ridges,  through  strips  of 

timber,  and  occasionally  stopping  at  a  depot  to  leave 

mail;  but  uptin   returning  on   the   same  road  in  the 

•day  time  we  found  the  country  to  be  very  similar  to 

the  northeastern  part  of  Iowa,  but  not  so  well  settled. 

About  seven  o'clock  we  came  in    view   of    Council 

Eluflfs.     We  rode  a  good  many  miles  in  sight  of  these 

bluffs  before  we  came  up  to  them  and  arrived  at  the 

city.     These  bluffs  are  covered  with  a  green  verdure, 

■composed  of    a  fine,  soft   grass,   looking   much   like 

velvet.     The  railroad  runs  near  their  base  along  the 

Missouri   river   bottom.      Being   covered    with    this 

velvity  verdure  makes  them   ])erfectly   beautiful,   oh! 

nuii^nilicentl     I  never  saw  anvthint;  in  creati(jn  that 

proclaimed  more  clearly  that  the  Hand  that  made  us 

is   divine.      Such   a  continuous  chain  of    them    for 

miles,    such   beautiful  peaks,   such  deep  gorges  and 

gulches — they  seemed  to  vie  with  one  another  to  see 

which  would  be  the  most  singularly  formed.     I  can 

think  of  nothini;  more  like  it  than  «;reat  banks  rolling 

•one  against  the  other,    and  all   covered    with    green 

velvet  carpet.     I  suj)pose  they  do  not  look  so  magni- 

•cent  when  the  green  verdure  has  p<issed  away.      The 

anxious  i)assengers,  and  there  were  a  great  many  of 

them  on  board, — many  of  them  land  viewers  boun<l 

for  Nebraska, — were  glad,  very  glad,  to  see  the  city, 

and  hear  the  conductor  cry  out,  ''  C'ouncil  Bluffs,''  for 

it  was  now  after  eight  o'clock,  an<l   the  train  wa^  due 


178  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

a  little  after  seven.  AVe  had  had  nothing  to  eat  since 
we  left  Boone  Station;  there  is  a  splendid  eating 
house  there,  well  arranged,  well  furnished  with  every 
comfort  that  could  be  found  on  any  railroad,  east  or 
west,  and  we  were  all  very  glad  to  see  a  place  where  we 
could  get  refreshments.  Immediately  after  landing 
upon  the  platform  we  were  accosted  by  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Commercial  Hotel,  I.  P.  BushnelU 
who  politely  enquired  if  we  wished  entertainment  in 
a  kind  tone  of  voice,  while  the  other  men  and  boys 
ran  around  crying  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  "  This 
way,  this  way,  right  to  such  a  place,  or  such  a  hotel. '^ 
The  doctor  told  the  gentleman  he  would  go  with  him. 
He  drove  the  cab  politely  to  the  platform  and 
lielped  us  in  very  kindly,  drove  to  his  hotel,  and  then 
furnished  a  good  warm  breakfast,  which  we  did 
justice  to  I  assure  you.  We  soon  learned  that  we  had 
missed  connection  with  the  train  that  would  have 
taken  us  from  Council  Bluffs  to  Brownville,  but  at 
three  o'clock  another  train  went  down  on  the  St.  Joe 
t.^  Missouri  Yalley  road. 

After  breakfast  Mr.  Bushnell  spent  some  time  in 
the  parlor,  and  from  him  we  learned  some  very  inter- 
esting  incidents  connected  with  the  early  settlement 
of  Council  Bluffs.  It  was  then  a  small  place,  and 
was  overrun  with  Mormons,  who  had  stopped  here  in 
their  retreat  to  Salt  Lake  City,  after  having  been 
routed  from|Xorthern  Illinois.  About  this  time  a 
Methodist  minister  by  the  name  of  AVilliam  Simpson 
came  to  the  ])lace  in  pursuit  of  horse-thieves,  and  he 
saw  the  great  importance  of  establishing  a  charge 
there  under  the  control  of  the  Methodist  conference 


KKoMIKK    I.IFK.  179 

and  endeavuivd  to  do  so.  A  Mormon  elder  bv  the 
name  of  Hyde  felt  that  lie  was  eiieruaching  upon  his 
influence,  and  oj)posed  and  jjerseeuted  him  very  much. 
But  l^ro.  Simj)Son  labored  there  for  several  years 
with  success,  sulxlued  the  Mormon  influence  and  built 
a  church  costing  a  considerable  sum,  and  established 
a  regular  charge  there.  They  have  had  succes- 
sive revivals,  and  in  iSOs  built  another  church 
costing  :^*23,00O,  which  was  dedicated  by  l^ro. 
Eddy,  editor  of  the  Northwestern  Chrtstlaji  Advo- 
cate. They  now  number  8S3  members.  Other 
denominations  labored  and  succeeded,  and  are  doing 
well,  and  since  the  railroads  have  been  built  throu^di 
that  city  it  has  gro^\^l  rapidly,  and  there  is  a  good 
religious  influence  there.  !Mr.  Bushnell  is  a  smart 
and  intelligent  young  man;  has  had  the  advantages 
of  an  excellent  college  situated  at  Iowa  City. 
He  is  well  calculated  for  any  business,  but  his  aim 
was  to  become  a  gospel  minister,  ^[y  husband,  son 
and  myself  were  well  pleased  with  his  acipiaintance. 
Long  may  lie  live  to  bless  the  world. 

Tliree  o'clock  arrived,  and  we  were  ijuite  ready  to 
go,  and  our  host  conducted  us  safely  to  the  cars — 
there  was  no  depot — and  we  had  to  get  off  on  some 
boards.  The  road  was  not  flnished,  only  worked  down 
opposite  l>n»wnsville,  but  the  train  would  not  go  to 
the  terminus.  That  evening  we  got  within  seven 
miles  of  Hrownsville,  ])ut  up  a  splendid  tavern  which 
had  just  been  finished  to  accommodate  travelers.  We 
found  in  our  host  an  old  acc^piaintance  of  Chicago;  had 
a  ])leasant  visit  with  the  family;  made  an  early  start, 

opTJosite   l*rowiisvil]e:  th«'re 


180  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

they  helped  ns  out  on  some  boards  and  into  a  cab 
which  awaited  us  fi'om  Brownsville,  which  was  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Missouri  river.  So  I  had  Ihe 
pleasure  of  riding  on  the  first  steamboat  that  ever  run 
on  the  Hudson  river,  and  the  first  steam  passenger 
car  that  run  on  the  Missouri  River  Yallej  road  there 
at  Bro■v^^lsville.  All  the  land  hunters  that  went  into 
]N"ebraska  crossed  the  Missouri  river.  It  was  then 
thought  the  rearest  route  to  the  land  ofiice  that  was 
open  for  entry. 

Mr.  Brown  drove  us  safely  to  the  river,  which  was 
three  miles  distant,  and  when  we  got  there  we  learned, 
to  our  disappointment,  that  the  steam  ferry  boat  had 
sunk  a  few  day  previous,  and  there  was  no  way  to  cross 
the  river  but  in  an  old  scow — an  old  ferry  boat  they 
had  used  for  years — and  I  shuddered  at  the  thought — 
oh  I  that  turbulent,  muddy  river — but  the  ferryman 
said  it  was  perfectly  safe.  My  husband  said  he 
"thought  it  was  safe,"  and  I  told  him  that  "One  thing 
I  knew,  that  we  leaned  upon  the  Arm  that  moved  the 
universe,  and  duty  called,  and  I  hoped  the  Lord  would 
preserve  us."  Myself  and  husband  went  onto  the  boat, 
and  one  after  another  came  aboard  until  there  were  as 
many  as  ten  men  on  the  boat,  and  they  loaded  in 
several  barrels  of  eggs  and  kegs  of  butter  from  a 
grocery  near  by,  and  we  moved  slowly  fi-om  the  shore, 
and  oh!  how  my  heart  throbbed,  but  those  beautiful 
lines  came  to  my  mind,  "When  through  the  deep 
waters  I  call  thee  to  go,  the  rivers  of  woe  shall  thee  not 
overflow."  The  ferry  man  was  very  cautious.  The 
water  was  very  still,  and  we  moved  slowly,,  and  after 
some  time  arrived  safely  at  the  other  shore. 


FRONTIKie    LirK.  181 

A  very  t^enteel  youiit;  iiuin,  win*  was  |)n)j)riet(H'  of 
the  Stiir  Hotel,  which  whs  near  tlie  bank  of  ihe  river, 
met  us,  took  our  satchel  and  politely  conducted  us  to 
his  residence,  where  evervthin*^  was  in  order.  As  we 
passed  through  the  hall  to  the  parlor,  we  saw  Dr. 
Molony,  of  Belvidere,  111.,  whom  we  were  (piite  inti- 
mately ac(|uainted  with.  lie  came  into  the  i)arlor 
and  we  had  a  very  pleasant  greeting.  He  had  been  out 
into  Richardson  county,  ISTeb.,  to  visit  his  farm 
of  oOOO  acres,  where  he  had  two  sons  at  work,  besides  a 
number  of  hands  improving  the  land;  had  a  very  large 
peach  orchard,  and  would  probably  raise  500  bushels 
of  peaches  that  year.  The  Doctor  was  anxiously 
waiting  for  a  boat  to  come  down  the  river,  on  which 
he  intended  going  down  the  stream  to  some  point, 
take  the  cars,  and  return  to  Belvidere.  The  Doctor 
was  a  great  land  speculator,  and  he,  with  many  others, 
have  l)ought  up  large  tracts  of  the  very  best  land  in 
Xebraska — bought  it  up  with  college  scrip  which 
was  sold  only  a  few  years  ago  by  that  State,  thus 
shutting  out  the  homesteader,  and  the  country  is  not 
settled  up  around  there  yet.  They  held  the  land  at 
>55  per  acre,  l>ut  had  bought  it  for  GO  cts.  an  acre 
with  scrip. 

Brownsville  was  a  very  prosperous  town,  made  so 
by  the  new  settlers  in  the  country  lying  back  of  it; 
was  the  County  Seat  of  Otoe  county,  which  was 
bounded  by  Richardson,  Johnson,  Gage,  etc.  The 
settlers  all  hauled  their  goods,  groceries  and  luml^er 
from  that  ])lace.  It  is  the  most  romantic  i)lace  1  ever 
saw;  churches  and  houses  sit  upon  the  very  to])  of  the 
Missouri  bluffs,  and  were  tinished    in   the  latest  stvle. 


182  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

and  looked  as  if  they  might  he  tipped  over  the  steep 
embankmeut  by  the  tirst  storm  \vhich  might  strike 
them.  But  some  of  them  have  stood  there  for  many 
years.  It  was  long  years  ago  a  trading  post  for  the 
Indians.  There  were  some  good  buildings  put  up 
then,  and  many  of  the  maret  here  still,  and  there  are 
many  enterprising  men  in  Brownsville. 

The  land  office  was  there  for  many  years ;  my  husband 
and  son  went  there,  as  others  did,  to  get  some  field 
plots  to  enter  and  buy.  Our  friend  Mayberry  met  us 
there,  and  they  found  the  gentleman  in  the  land  office 
very  kind  and  polite.  They  got  their  field  notes, 
hired  a  nice  double  livery  rig,  and  went  off  to  look  for 
land.  AYe  traveled  throudi  a  o-ood  deal  of  Kichard- 
son  county,  and  went  into  the  southeast  part  of  Gage 
county;  found  our  old  friend  and  neighbor,  Tobin, 
settled  on  a  nice  farm  of  half  a  section,  one  hundred 
acres  of  which  was  in  nice  wheat  and  corn.  They 
had  left  our  neighl)orhood  in  Ogle  county.  111.,  about 
fifteen  months  previous,  but  they  still  lived  in  their 
camp,  which  was  made  of  logs  at  the  bottom,  and 
boarded  up  the  sides  and  over  the  top,  but  it  was 
somewhat  shattered  and  looked  dangerous  to  sleep  in, 
so  we  took  supper  with  them  and  then  went  on  to 
"Pap  Tyler's,''  as  he  was  called  by  everybody  who 
knew  them,  real  kind-hearted  old  people,  who  lived 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Big  Blue  river.  They  pro- 
vided entertainment  for  all  the  traveling:  communitv. 
We  were  splendidly  entertained  over  Sunday.  AVe 
learned  from  Bro.  Tobin  and  Bro.  Tyler's  folks  that 
there  would  be  circuit  preaching  at  Blue  Springs 
by  Bro.  Mann,  on  Sundav  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  Sun- 


KKoNTIKK    I. IKK.  lS3 

(lay-sclioc»l  at   half   }>ast    tt'ii,  an<l   Wi'w   iiiucli    ])I<'a>«'(I 
witli  this  information. 

Bhie  Sprini^s  was  a  litth'  town  jnst  hiid  out  on  the 
west  side  of  the  I)i<,'  IMne  river,  tlie  largest  stream 
rnnniiii^Mhroni^h  tliat  part  of  tlic  couiitrv.  Near  tlii> 
town  are  three  lar«;e  s|)rin«;s  sitnated  eloselv  to«ri.tlier, 
tliv  water  is  verv  hlne,  whieli  i^ave  tlie  phice  its  name. 
There  liad  heen  a  severe  rain  while  we  were  at 
P>rownsville,  and  liad  raised  the  river  so  it  was  not 
safe  to  drive  onr  earria<jje  across;  but  l>ro.  To])in  said 
he  wonld  eonie  nj>  and  bring  his  big  wagon,  and  take 
us  over  to  eliureh  and  Sabbath-scliool.  I  don't  think 
1  ever  saw  a  nieer  stream  than  the  Blue,  it  is  like  tlie 
sj)rings,  unusually  blue,  and  glides  over  beautiful 
white  rocks  and  has  very  steej)  banks.  It  takes  an 
experienced  }>erson  to  drive  safely  through,  Init  Uncle 
Tobin  liad  experience,  and  he  took  us  safely  to  the 
western  l)ank  of  the  beautiful  Big  Blue,  and  drove  up 
to  the  d«»uble  log  house  where  the  preaching  was  to 
be.  In  Blue  Springs  were  found,  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  a  saw  mill,  and  grist  mill,  j)artly  enclosed;  one 
<lry  goods  store,  Ilodge  6c  Hanson,  proprietors;  one 
)»lacksmith  shop;  a  shoe  shop;  two  or  three  very 
small  board  houses,  and  in  the  log  building  where  the 
])reaching  and  Sabbath-school  were  to  be,  a  family 
lived  in  one  end,  and  the  jmst  office  and  a  small 
grocery  occupied  the  front  end;  and  there  were  three 
or  four  traveling  tents  j)itclied  upon  the  village  green, 
which  were  tilled  with  emi;;rants.  After  the  sermon  a 
small  but  interesting  Sabbatli-school  was  held.  The 
congregation  })Oured  in  till  there  was  not  a  seat  to  l>c 
had;  the  natives  gave  away  to  the  new  emigrants  and 


1S4  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

then  stood  up  as  long  as  one  could  crowd  in ;  those 
who  could  not  get  in  stood  around  the  door  and  two- 
small  windows,  until  there  was  quite  a  circle.  The 
preacher  pressed  in,  and  took  quite  a  dilapidated 
chair  which  was  set  for  him.  He  was  a  fine  looking 
man,  but  any  one  could  see  from  the  expression  of 
his  features  that  he  was  very  much  depressed  in 
spirits  from  some  cause.  He  arose,  stepped  behind 
the  chair,  opened  the  Bible  and  read  a  chapter,  read  a 
hvmn,  and  the  congregation  joined  in  and  sang  it 
with  tones  of  deep-felt  melody  such  as  touch  the  heart. 
Oh!  what  an  earnest,  solemn  rendering  of  thanks- 
arose  fi-om  the  hearts  of  those  people  I  ^hat  an 
earnest  beseeching  the  Lord  for  continued  mercy. 
And  while  on  our  bended  knees  we  felt  that  the  Lord 
oyershadowed  us,  and  eyerj  one  felt  that  the  Lord  was 
present.  We  arose  and  Bro.  Mann  took  for  his  text,. 
*' Wliat  \yill  it  profit  a  man  if  he  gain  the  whole  world 
and  lose  his  soul,"  and  preached  a  heart-comforting 
sermon.  At  the  close  he  told  us  that  that  would 
necessarily  be  his  last  sermon,  for  awhile  at  least,. 
that  his  family  was  suffering,  and  he  must  go  do\\^l  ta 
the  riyer  and  hunt  up  some  work  to  supply  his  family 
with  food;  being  a  mechanic,  he  thought  he  might 
get  some  work  there. 

The  class-leader  arose  and  said,  "  Brethren,  we  are 
all  so  near  Bro.  Mann's  condition  that  it  will  be 
difficult  for  us  to  do  much,  but  it  will  not  do  to  let 
him  leaye  this  work;  we  will  pass  the  hat  and  see 
what  we  can  do  to-day,  and  the  oflicial  board  must 
make  some  arrangements  for  him  and  his  family  right 
away.     It  is  eyen  as  he  said;  they  are  suffering.     I 


FRONTIKK    LIKE.  1S5 

was  at  his  house  a  day  ur  two  since,  ami  they  ha<I 
nothing  but  corn  bread  and  wild  goo8el)errie6,  cooked 
without  sugar,  to  eat,  and  corn  coffee  to  drink."  'I'hr 
hat  was  passetl  and  ^8  were  collcted.  Hro.  Mann  was 
in  cliarge  of  what  was  called  Club  Creek  Circuit,  but 
now  changeil  to  Blue  8})ring  Circuit.  It  is  a  noble 
circuit  now,  supporting  three  preachers  well. 

In  after  days,  when  we  moved  to  that  country,  we 
found  Bro.  Mann  at  his  post  laboring  for  precious 
souls,  and  have  heard  him  say  more  than  once  that 
that  eight  dollars  seemed  to  do  him  more  good  than 
one  hundred  at  many  other  times  in  life.  lie  had  a 
wife  and  four  children.  lie  preached  twice  and  often 
three  times  every  Sunday,  and  frecpiently  through  the 
week;  a  deeply  pious  man;  has  tilled  some  important 
positions  in  that  conference. 

We  succeeded  in  securing  one  eighty  acre  tract  of 
land  in  Blue  Springs  neighborhood,  went  on  from 
there  to  Sicily  Creek,  about  twelve  miles,  passed  over 
some  nice  prairie  land,  found  some  nice  new  farms 
near  the  stream;  met  Bro.  Mann  at  Bro.  Knight's; 
took  dinner  with  them,  and  through  their  instrumen 
tality,  secured  another  eighty-acre  lot  of  land  near 
Sicily  creek.  They  then  had  a  class  of  twelve  or 
fourteen,  and  many  of  the  members  were  very  intelli- 
gent, although  they  lived  in  log  huts,  and  some  in 
dugouts,  and  had  an  earnest  of  an  iidieritance  above, 
a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
— blessed  hoj>e! 

I  often  think  of  (tur  trij*  to  P,lue  Springs  on  that 
blessed  Sabbath  morn,  as  we  were  seat^Kl  in  Bro. 
Tobin's    nice    large    wagon    driving   down    the  creek 


186  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

valley  to  the  ford,  the  beautiful  stream  gliding  ])y 
over  the  large  white  rocks  on  one  side,  and  the  moun- 
tain range  of  beautiful  building  stone  which  rose  in  a 
solid  mass  as  high  as  sixty  or  one  hundred  feet  on  the 
east  bank,  the  bottom  land  spreading  out  from  the 
stream,  and  all  along  the  bank  of  the  creek  the  large 
oak  and  walnut  trees  spread  out  their  mighty  arms  to 
protect  us  from  tlie  rays  of  the  sun,  while  the 
feathered  tribe  flitted  through  them,  proclaiming  that 
the  Hand  which  made  us  is  divine;  and  while  passing 
down  the  road  to  the  crossing  in  rather  a  meditative 
frame  of  mind,  Mrs.  Tobin  looked  up  with  a  radiant 
smile  lighting  up  her  features  and  her  black  eyes 
glistening  with  joy — she  did  not  speak  very  good 
English — while  she  said,  '^  Tobin,  Tobin,  I  did  not 
think  we  should  have  the  Doctor's  folks  here  in  this 
new  country  to  go  to  church  with  us  so  soon  when 
we  parted  with  them  in  our  nice  new  church.  I  am 
so  glad,  I  am  so  glad  I"  ''That  is  so,"  said  Bro. 
Tobin.  We  rode  along  for  a  few  minutes  in  silence, 
reflecting  uj^on  the  singular  Providence  which  had 
brought  us  together  under  such  pleasant  circum- 
stances. 

When  me  bid  them  farewell,  the  evening  before 
they  started  for  Nebraska,  it  was  in  the  nice  new 
-church  which  both  families  had  helped  to  build; 
where  the  Lord  had  converted  each  other's  children  and 
dear  neighbors ;  and  where,  eighteen  months  previous, 
we  had  expected  to  remain  the  rest  of  our  days ;  where 
we  both  had  comfortable  liomes,  and  Bro.  Tobin  had 
just  built  him  a  splendid  house  just  the  year  before; 
and  now,  on  this  beautiful  Sabbath  morning,  we  met 


FKoNTIKK    mm:.  187 

ill  the  wilds  »»t'  Xcln-aska,  i;la<l  to  asstMnl)le  in  a  small 
log  room  t«>  worsliij)  the  Lord,  some  wee|)iMi;  and 
t»tliers  smiliii*^,  and  1  assure  v<»u,  reader,  there  was 
<lee|)  fei'lini;.  The  Doctor  remarked,  "  I>rother  Tohin, 
if  we  are  faithful  tn  dutv,  do  all  we  can  tn  ^t-t  iij»  the 
hanncr  «>f  the  Lord,  we  >hall  >ee  soiils  c< diverted  ami 
^•Imrches  hiiilt  in  this  conntrv."  .Inst  then  we  arrived 
;it  the  ford  and  the  Doctor  remarked,  **Ma,  here  is  the 
Uii;  liliie  river  we  have  been  told  so  much  ahoiit." 
*-And,"  I  remarked,  "the  half  has  not  been  told.'' 
**It  is  surely  so,"  said  he.  AVe  drove  np  to  the  little 
lotr  house,  got  out  of  the  wagon  and  entered  the  little 
church,  and  truly  the  Lord  was  with  us. 

The  next  day,  when  we  met  Bro.  Mann  with  a  few 
other  brethren,  we  felt  and  realized  that  they  were 
children  of  the  Lord.  AVe  left  Sicily  Creek  witli 
Jh'o.  Mann,  and  he  directed  us  to  some  land  he 
thought  nearer  to  the  road  than  it  really  was.  We 
found  several  pieces,  but  the  doctor  did  not  think 
they  would  pay  to  enter.  But  we  lost  our  compass. 
There  were  but  a  very  few  roads  here,  and  we  lost 
ours.  Jji'o.  ^lann  invited  us  to  go  to  his  house  to 
.>^tay  that  night,  but  we  did  n(>t  make  it,  and  so  ])Ut 
up  at  a  log  hotel,  or  jtart  log  and  j»art  l»oards,  on  the 
Fort  Carney  r<jad  leading  from  St.  Joe  to  Fort 
Carney,  the  road  upon  which  all  the  provisions  for 
the  Fort,  and  over  which  all  the  Californian  emigra- 
tion passed.  We  stayed  all  night  there,  and  early 
next  morning  the  doctor  and  son  and  friend  Mayberry 
took  a  scout  around  the  country  for  about  fifteen 
miles,  but  found  n<»  land  to  secure  by  entry.  Theit» 
was  lots  and  lots  of  beautiful  land  and  water  and  some 


188  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

timber,  but  all  entered  by  the  college  scrip  or  at 
government  price,  $1.25.  And  the  gentlemen  came 
home  to  the  tavern  all  discouraged.  The  doctor  said 
he  would  go  back  to  Iowa  and  pay  $5.00  per  acre  for 
land  before  he  would  buy  such  land  as  he  found  there^ 
and  we  loaded  up  and  started  for  home.  "We  crossed 
the  Blue,  aj^d  drove  through  Beatrice,  and  the  land 
looked  better  and  better  every  mile  we  traveled,  and 
my  husband  would  remark,  "  Wliat  splendid  land."" 
Wlien  we  got  within  about  ten  miles  of  Beatrice,  the 
doctor  remarked,  "  Boys,  if  I  could  buy  this  land  for 
two  or  three  dollars  per  acre  I  would  give  it."  May- 
berry  said,  "Well,  doctor  I  will  take  you  to  a  man 
right  off  who  has  three  sections  in  one  body  that  he 
will  sell.  He  has  live  hundred  acres  broke,  and  has 
twenty  teams  at  Avork  breaking."  We  soon  began  to 
see  the  teams,  and  soon  saw  the  old  gentleman 
himself  mounted  upon  his  pony,  and  riding  to  and  fro- 
among  them.  We  drove  up  to  him,  and  Mr. 
Mayberry  gave  us  an  introduction  and  told  him  that 
the  doctor  wished  to  buy  a  section  of  land.  The 
doctor  said,  "Will  you  sell?"  "  Yes,  sir,  one  or  more 
sections  if  you  wish,"  said  the  gentleman.  "At  what 
price?"  "Two  and  a  half  for  the  sections  which 
have  no  breaking,  and  live  for  those  that  have 
breaking,  or  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  section." 
We  looked  the  land  over,  and  the  doctor  told  him 
he  would  take  the  unbroken  section  at  $2.50  per 
acre.  Mr.  I^^ewhall  said  he  would  come  to  the  tavern 
where  we  were  going  to  stay,  and  go  with  us  to 
Brownsville  and  make  out  the  deed,  and  we  bid  him 
good  evening.     At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  he 


FKONTIKK    I.IKK.  189 

"Was  on  liaiul,  and  we  drove  to  IJrownsville  that  day, 
distant  about  forty  miles.  The  next  day  we  had  our 
pipers  made  out,  and  on  the  morrow  starte<l  for  liome. 
Mr.  AValker  took  us  over  that  dreadful  river  in  a  sail 
boat,  there  being  no  steaml)oat  yet. 

The  last  night  we  stayed  at  the  l^rownsville  tavern 
there  were  nine  states  rejiresented  by  emigrants  hunt- 
ing land.  All  had  bou^^ht  more  or  less,  but  most  of 
tlieni  were  speculators. 

We  had  a  very  })leasant  time  at  IJrownsville;  formed 
the  ac<|uaintanee  of  (juite  a  number  of  Christians,  Mr. 
Dorsey,  Methodist;  Mr.  Lett,  Presbyterian,  both  of 
whom  were  very  intelligent  business  men,  and  had 
}ield  positions  in  the  land  office,  and  had  been  citizens 
there  for  twelve  or  iifteen  years.  They  gave  us  a 
^ood  deal  of  interesting  infornuition  in  regard  to  the 
progress  of  business  and  society  in  the  community; 
they  were  acquainted  w^itli  all  the  enterprises  of  the 
dav  and  hour:  thev  were  there  when  there  was  nothintr 
but  a  few  log  huts  there;  they  had  helped  to  build  a 
splendid  school  house  and  several  churches,  a  Baptist, 
a  Methodist  and  a  Presbyterian.  They  invited  us  out 
to  a  strawberry  festival.  There  were  some  as  line 
residences  in  Brownsville  as  I  ever  saw,  and  each  one 
of  those  gentlemen  owned  one  of  them.  The  Dorsey 
family  were  among  the  first  residents  in  the  town,  and 
Father  Dorsey  died  there  a  number  of  years  previous. 

I  think  we  lift  Brown>ville  the  iJsth  of  June  on  the 
Valley  railroad,  and  while  we  had  been  gone  they  had 
put  up  a  good  de])ot  and  tavern,  and  we  had  a  nice 
platform  to  get  out  on — quite  an  iiiii»rovement  for 
such  a  new  county.     We  liad  a    wvy   i»leasant    ride  to 


100  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

Council  Bluffs;  got  there  just  in  time  to  get  onto  the 
Northwestern  train  for  the  east — about  seven  o'clock. 
We  rode  all  night,  and  arrived  in  Boonsboro  just  in 
time  for  a  splendid  breakfast,  and  from  there  hurried 
on  and  got  off  at  Fairfax  about  twelve  o'clock;  found 
our  children  all  well ;  stopped  a  few  days  with  them 
and  then  started  for  our  home  in  Oo^le  countv* 
delighted  with  our  trip  and  the  new  country,  and  we 
had  traveled  all  that  distance,  and  had  not  heard  one 
bit  of  profane  language  or  seen  a  drunken  man. 

Our  children  prevailed  upon  us  to  stop  in  Malta. 
DeKalb  county — two  of  them  lived  near  there — and 
we  concluded  to  do  so,  until  they  could  get  ready 
and  go  with  us.  We  bought  some  property  there^ 
fixed  us  up  a  nice  home,  as  we  thought  perhaps  we 
might  have  to  wait  a  year  or  two.  But  we  were  not 
satisfied,  as  we  felt  that  duty  called  us  west,  and  we 
felt  as  thoutrh  we  ouo-ht  to  iniluence  our  children  to 
go  west,  as  we  believed  it  would  be  of  great  advantage 
to  them,  in  a  pecuniary  sense,  and  they  could  also  be  so 
useful  in  that  new  country,  and  it  would  be  so  pleas- 
ant to  have  them  settle  near  us — in  the  same  county 
at  least. 

We  spent  the  winter  very  pleasantly  at  Malta.  We 
•helped  them  build  a  church  there,  the  first  Methodist 
church  Ijuilt  in  that  place.  They  had  helped  the 
Baptists  ])uild,  and  occupied  their  church  every  other 
Sabbath  until  they  had  boarded  out  their  money,  and 
then  did  the  same  with  the  Cono^re^ationalists  and 
boarded  that  out.  And  now  it  was  time  to  build  for 
themselves.  So  they  went  at  it  in  earnest,  and  built 
a  nice  church,  and  then  thev  had  a   orracious  revival. 


KlioNTIKK    I.IKK.  IIU 

Many  preciuiis  s<nils  were  converted  tlirongli  J>ru. 
Hunker's  inriuenee.  AVe  stayed  there  until  spring, 
and  then  conehided  that,  as  our  chihh-en  were  not 
<^ettin^  ready  to  go  with  us,  we  would  have  to  go 
alone  and  drive  the  stakes.  We  hoped  they  would 
rally  around  our  new  home,  and  we  offered  each  one 
who  Would  go  with  us  or  follow  after  us  HM)  acres  of 
land,  hut  they  all  had  conifortahle  small  homes,  and 
money  was  very  scarce  through  the  country  and  they 
could  not  sell,  and  so  could  not  go,  hut  we  ho]>ed  they 
would  come  as  soon  as  they  disposed  of  their  effects- 
AVe  continued  to  get  ready.  Our  youngest  son,  who 
went  with  us  to  visit  Xehraska,  had  just  returned 
from  Bennett  Medical  College,  Chicago,  a  few  months 
previous,  and  was  opening  up  a  nice  practice  in  and 
around  the  village,  and  his  friends  urged  him  to  stay 
and  his  wife  inclined  to  stay  with  her  friends;  so  we 
found  we  were  to  ijo  alone.  One  <;randson,  ^[.  P. 
lioe,  volunteered  to  g«»  with  us,  and  we  hired  another 
man,  Michael  Shelly.  C'liartered  a  car,  loaded  it  with 
furniture,  wagon  and  team,  [dows  and  harrows,  five 
bari*els  of  flour,  barrel  of  pork,  butter,  pickles,  forty 
bushels  of  ])<>tatoes,  and  started  it  westward,  tlie 
hired  man  on  hoard  to  take  care  of  the  horses  and 
<»ur  favorite  dog,  Pont<>.  The  <loct<»r,  myself  and 
grandson  left  on  the  passenger  train  that  night  at 
three  o'clock,  sad  to  leave  our  dear  children  and  many 
dear  frien<ls  behind,  but  feeling  that  wv  were  in  the 
pathway  of  <luty,  that  the  I.onl  was  guiding  us,  and 
hoping  that  good  would  come  out  of  it.  we  were 
cheerful. 

The  doctor  took   consi<lerabIe   me«liciiie   uitii    liim. 


192  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

He  had  been  keeping  a  drug  store  in  connection  with 
a  grocery  through  the  winter  while  at  Malta,  had 
decided  not  to  travel  and  practice  any  more,  but  to 
prescribe  at  his  office.  This  he  did  a  great  deal,  but 
frequently  his  friends  would  prevail  upon  him  to  go 
with  them  on  the  cars  and  prescribe  for  difficult  cases, 
who  were  not  able  to  come  to  him.  He  did  not 
intend  to  ride  and  practice  in  that  new  country. 

We  overtook  our  freight  car  at  Cedar  Eapids  all 
safe.  They  were  to  lay  over  there  for  the  Sabbath, 
but  we  went  on  to  Fairfax,  and  stopped  with  our 
children.  We  spent  the  Sabbath  together,  and 
attended  two  new  churches — the  Methodist  in  the 
forenoon  and  Presbyterian  in  the  afternoon.  They 
were  both  finished  off  in  fine  style. 

Monday  morning  our  freight  car  passed  us  under 
good  headway  all  safe,  and  the  hired  man  gave  the 
signal.  At  twelve  o'clock  we  boarded  the  passenger 
train  and  pursued  our  journey  very  pleasantly,  and 
about  dusk  we  overtook  our  freight  again  all  right, 
and  here  they  dropped  off  one  passenger  car,  and  the 
Doctor  prevailed  on  the  conductor  to  couple  on  our 
freight  car.  It  was  very  gratifying  to  us,  to  know 
we  were  all  on  the  same  train  and  under  good 
headway.  We  passed  on  SAviftly  and  safely,  and  about 
daylight  arrived  at  Council  Bluffs;  got  our  breakfast 
at  a  good  hotel;  found  our  friends  whom  we  had 
known  on  our  former  visit  all  well,  and  they  gave  us 
a  hearty  welcome. 

The  next  thing  was  to  get  our  car  shipped  onto  the 
Missouri  Valley  road.  It  cost  us  twenty -five  dollars 
to  do  this,  and  it  was  tu  run  down  the  road  to  a  new 


FRONTIER    LIFE.  193 

station  just  opposite  Xebniska  City — I  don't  think 
they  had  named  the  station  yet — but  the  freiglit 
woukl  not  reach  there  till  the  next  morning  at  ten 
ct'clock.  AVe  boarded  the  ])assenger  train  and  went 
that  far  that  evening,  and  when  we  arrived  tliere  we 
fnund  that  the  depot  agent  had  gone  to  Illinois  to 
get  married,  and  in  his  phice  was  a  cross,  illnatured 
fup.  AVe  in«|uired  fur  a  tavern.  "There  is  none,  and 
you  can't  stay  here,"  said  he.  The  Doctor  replied,  "  I 
guess  we  can  stay;  I  see  there  are  quite  a  number 
of  folks  who  appear  as  though  they  are  staying  here;  I 
see  two  or  three  houses  here."  "  Well,  they  can  take 
care  of  themselves,"  said  the  agent.  "  Well,"  said  I, 
"w^e  can  stay  in  the  depot."  "Xo  you  can't,"  said  he, 
*'we  do  not  let  people  stay  in  our  depot." 

Just  then  a  very  fine  looking  young  man  spoke  up 
and  said,  ''Grandpa,  and  Grandma,  if  you  are  not  very 
particular,  I  think  you  can  get  pretty  good  entertainment 
at  my  boarding  house;  the  house  is  not  iinished  up, 
but  it  is  pretty  comfortable  for  this  warm  weather, 
and  their  board  is  good;  there  are  also  some  nice  old 
people  stopping  there,  and  you  will  enjoy  their 
company."  "Thank  you,  kind  sir,"  said  I,  "we  will 
go  with  you,  and  you  must  accept  our  gratitude  for  the 
respect  shown  us  l)y  yourself." 

lie  advanced  across  the  road  and  we  followed.  lie 
showed  us  in  and  intnjduced  us  to  the  kind  folks  as 
some  -^travelers  wIkj  wanted  lodgings  for  the  night." 
They  kindly  replied,  "We  will  do  the  very  best  we 
can  for  them;  we  have  one  bedroom  that  is  lathed, 
and  we  can  iinish  another  in  time  to  sleep  in,"  and, 
from  the  rapid  tap,   taj)  of  hammers,   it  woidd   seem 


194  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

as  though  their  predictions  would  be  fulfilled.  There 
were  two  bedrooms  with  quilts  hung  around  the  lathes 
for  the  old  folks,  while  the  young  men  slept  on  the 
diningroom  floor ;  and  the  hotel  keeper  and  lady  occupied 
the  kitchen ;  thus  we  were  all  comfortably  situated  for 
the  night — after  having  partaken  of  an  excellent 
supper — and  I  assure  you  we  were  very  grateful  to 
those  kind  people  for  their  hospitality.  The  unkind 
fop  would  gladly  have  seen  us  lie  out  doors. 

We  slept  well  and  awoke  much  refreshed.  The  sun 
arose  bright  and  cheerful,  but  soon  went  under  a 
cloud,  or  the  cloud  went  over  the  sun.  We  could 
hear  the  mutterino^  thunder  and  see  the  licrhtnino^ 
flash,  and  just  as  our  freight  train  appeared  on  the 
track,  the  rain  and  hail  came  down  in  a  perfect 
tempest,  but  our  car  was  safely  uncoupled  and  run 
onto  the  side-track.  That  cloud  passed  by,  and 
then  another,  and  so  on  the  whole  day  and  night.  But 
those  old  people  were  very  intelligent,  and  they  done  all 
they  could  to  make  it  pleasant  for  us.  Their  children 
were  very  kind ;  gave  us  good  board  and  plenty  of  it,, 
and  on  the  whole  we  were  quite  comfortable. 

The  next  morning  was  calm  and  lovely  over  head, 
but  oh!  that  Missouri  mud,  I  never  saw  anything  like 
it.  The  Doctor  tried  to  get  to  the  river,  but  it  waa 
impossible — mud  knee  deep,  and  in  many  places 
sloughs  of  water  up  to  a  man's  waist.  lie  came 
back  and  said  we  would  have  to  be  resigned  to  our 
fate,  and  went  to  unloading  our  car;  had  taken  the 
horses  out  the  day  before  and  put  tliem  in  a  not  very 
good  stable,  but  they  stood  it  pretty  well.  That  day 
the  Doctor  looked  around  and  tried  to  hire  two  or  three 


FRONTIKR    UKK.  195 

teiiins  with  whicli  to  take  lis  to  tlie  iiei^liUrn-liood  where 
our  hiiul  was  situated,  f«nir  inik's  from  Cral)  Orcliard, 
on  the  emigrant  trail  leading  from  Nebraska  City  to 
Fort  Kearney,  in  Gage  county;  ])ut  they  did  not 
succeed  very  well,  only  secured  one  team. 

They  loaded  up  early  the  next  morning  and  we 
hid  farewell  to  our  kind  friends  and  started,  I  on  top 
of  our  wagon  load  seated  on  the  spring  seat,  while  the 
Doctor  acted  as  teamster ;  but  we  had  not  traveled  but 
a  few  rods  when  I  lost  my  l)alance  and  fell  to  the 
ground,  but  by  a  great  effort  I  managed  to  light  on 
my  feet,  and  here  the  mud  was  ankle  deep.  I  made 
my  way  to  a  knoll  that  was  covered  with  old  leaves, 
and  drew  off  mv  shoes  and  stockiiii^s  and  waded 
through  the  mud  to  the  river,  which  was  about  half  a 
mile,  through  dense  woods.  The  teams  got  there  first, 
and  they  were  a  perfect  daub  of  mud,  and  the  men 
had  to  scrape  the  wheels  several  times  while  on  the 
road. 

We  crossed  the  river  in  safety,  and  I  was  thankful 
to  place  my  feet  on  Nebraska  soil  once  more,  after 
having  washed  them  in  the  Missouri  river  and  dressed 
them.  The  Doctor  and  I  concluded  to  walk  throuirh 
the  city  that  we  might  view  the  largest  city  in  our 
adopted  state,  and  what  had  been  the  Capital  until 
within  eighteen  months,  when  it  had  been  moved  to 
Lincoln.  We  saw  some  very  fine  business  blocks, 
nice  churches,  school  houses  and  beautiful  residences 
with  lovely  surroundings,  and  some  of  the  nicest 
gardens  and  nurseries  that  I  ever  saw;  we  could 
scarcely  believe  it,  although  we  saw  it  with  our  own 
eyes,  all  was  so  lovely;  and  all  this  was  once  a  wild 


196  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Indian  territory,  but  was  now  under  such  line  im- 
provement, and  families  out  of  the  city,  on  the  Fort 
Kearney  road,  had  their  large  farms  and  splendid 
buildings. 

As  soon  as  we  got  onto  Xebraska  soil  we  had  good 
roads,  except  the  sloughs,  and  there  we  had  tugging, 
I  assure  you,  yet  the  teams  stood  up  pretty  well  under' 
the  travel.  "We  expected,  or  hoped  to  reach  a  very 
good  tavern  that  evening,  in  the  edge  of  the  DeKalb 
settlement,  which  located  there  three  years  previous, 
but  about  sundown  we  had  to  drive  through  a  bad 
slough,  and  there  got  stuck.  We  worried  for  some 
time  but  to  no  avail.  There  was  but  one  small  house 
in  sight,  which  was  two  miles  from  the  tavern.  The 
men  concluded  to  go  to  the  house  and  see  if  they 
could  get  a  team  with  which  to  take  me  there,  and 
see  if  we  could  stay  there — the  house  was  about  a  half 
mile  distant.  Both  of  our  teams  were  in  the  slough. 
The  kind  folks  said  we  could  stay,  but  had  but  one 
bed,  and  no  pro^-isions  but  bread  and  milk.  The 
gentleman  got  out  his  team  and  came  to  our  assist- 
ance, and  by  this  time  it  was  almost  dark.  They  con- 
cluded to  drive  in  with  the  team  and  get  some  beds, 
bedding  and  provisions,  and  take  me  to  the  house, 
and  the  men  would  take  off  the  teams  and  bring  them 
up  and  leave  the  wagons  until  morning.  1  was 
thankful  to  find  a  place  where  I  could  sit  do^Ti. 

They  had  two  or  three  chairs,  and  the  lady,  a  kind- 
hearted  soul,  offered  to  get  the  supper;  said  she, 
"Grandma,  you  look  so  tired,  you  had  better  lie 
down."  I  was  tired,  sick  and  lame.  I  did  lie  down 
on  the  beds  they  had  thrown  down  on  the  floor,  and 


FRONTIKU    I.ll-K.  197 

uhl  how  good  rest  did  seem  to  me,  {ind  1  soon  beciime 
unconscious  to  all  around  me.  Pretty  soon  the 
Doctor  awoke  me  for  6U])per.  I  took  some  refresh- 
ments, and  the  kind  lady  fixed  her  and  me  a  very 
comf<»rtable  bed  on  the  bedstead,  and  I  went  to  bed, 
thankful  that  I  was  so  well  provided  for.  She  fixed 
the  rest  of  the  beds  on  the  floor  as  best  she  could. 

1  had  not  been  asleej)  long  when  I  was  awakened  by 
something  falling  on  my  face  and  liands,  similar  to 
fine  hail.  I  called  out  to  the  Doctor,  "Please  get  a 
light,  there  is  sijmething  falling  on  my  face  and  hands, 
and  all  over  the  bed."  This  aroused  the  lady,  and 
-he  remarked,  ''  It  is  only  the  dirt  falling  out  of  the 
-od  which  our  house  is  made  of,  and  when  the  wind 
blows,  now  it  has  become  dry,  it  crumbles  off,  and  we 
are  so  used  to  it  that  it  does  not  disturb  us."  So  the 
Doctor  did  not  strike  a  light,  and  the  rest  fell  asleep, 
"but  I  could  not  sleep,  for  I  was  afraid  every  minute 
that  the  whole  roof  would  fall  in  on  us.  But  morning 
came;  the  ro(jf  was  still  on  the  house,  and  we  were 
all  alive  and  very  thankful  that  we  were  as  comfortable 
a.s  we  were. 

The  men  folks  went  early  and  dug  out  our  wagons 
and  brought  them  to  the  house.  AVe  ate  our  break- 
fast, reloaded  our  wagons,  bid  our  friends  adieu,  and 
went  on  our  way,  cheered  with  the  hoj)e  of  reaching 
our  future  h«»me  that  day;  arrived  at  I^ro.  Howard's, 
on  Van k-ee  creek,  near  the  line  be.tween  .lolmson  and 
Gage  counties,  on  the  Johnson  side,  about  sundown — 
alx»ut  four  miles  from  our  secti«ni  nf  new  land,  with 
no  breaking  on  it  except  the  hedgert»w.  Never  shall 
I  forget  the  kindness  we  received  fmm  P.ro.  Howard's 


198  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

family.  They  allowed  us  to  remain  with  them  until 
we  could  get  up  a  shanty  to  cover  our  heads  so  we 
could  get  some  prairie  broke  up  on  which  to  raise  a 
crop  for  the  next  year.  Bro.  Howard  sold  us  some 
logs  for  sleepers  for  our  house,  grandson  and  the 
hired  man,  cut  and  hauled  them  up  to  our  section  the 
next  day,  while  Doctor  and  Bro.  Corbin,  one  of  our  Ogle 
county  friends  whom  we  were  very  glad  to  find  in 
the  neighborhood,  went  six  miles  to  a  small  steam 
mill,  where  they  ground  corn  and  sawed  lumber,  and 
got  some  Cottonwood  lumber  and  hauled  it  up  to  our 
place.  It  was  now  Saturday  evening.  We  spent  the 
Sabbath  with  Bro.  Howard's  family  very  pleasantly. 
They  had  a  large  log  house,  in  which  were  two  large 
rooms  below  and  some  other  rooms  above ;  had  two  sons 
and  two  interesting  daughters  and  a  niece  who  made 
their  home  with  them.  One  son,  James  Howard,  and 
a  son-in-law,  Mr.  Brown,  who  lived  near  them,  came 
home  on  Sunday.  We  had  some  excellent  singing  and 
a  prayermeeting.  Oh!  how  we  rejoiced  to  think  we 
had  found  a  people  who  feared  the  Lord.  Those  good 
folks  had  been  there  seven  years ;  had  just  come  when 
they  had  the  great  Indian  stampede.  It  was  some- 
thing like  this :  There  came  a  runner  through  the 
country  purporting  to  be  from  Fort  Kearney,  crying, 
"Flee  for  your  lives,  the  Indians  have  taken  the  Fort, 
and  are  killing  every  family  they  come  to!"  Bro. 
Howard  had  his  misgivings  about  the  report  in  the 
first  place,  but  soon  the  settlers  began  to  pour  into 
their  neighborhood  on  their  way  to  Brownsville; 
every  hour  there  would  come  a  new  recruit.  Bro. 
Howard  advised  them  to  take  a  stand  there  and  see 


FRONTIER    LIFE.  199 

what  wuiild  be  the  result.  They  came  pell  inell,  some 
without  hats  or  shoes;  some  in  their  nit^ht  clothes,  with 
very  little  provisions,  some  without  any,  until  there 
were  two  hundred  ur  mure  men,  women  and  children 
on  the  ground  before  sundowni.  Each  family  felt  it 
their  dutv  to  communicate  the  news  to  their  neijrh- 
bors  as  soon  as  they  received  it,  and  it  reached  a  good 
many.  Bro.  Howard  and  his  neighbors  contributed  to 
their  comfort  as  far  as  was  within  their  j)(>wer  in 
clothes  and  provisions. 

Tlie  next  day  they  were  a  little  more  composed,  as 
the  Indians  had  not  appeared,  and  many  of  them 
began  to  think,  with  Bro.  Howard,  that  the  messen- 
ger who,  a  few  hours  previous,  they  considered  to  be 
their  best  friend,'  was  an  unprincipled  scalawag. 
Some  of  the  men  went  in  search  of  him,  but  could 
hear  nothing  of  him.  They  gradually  left  and 
returned  to  their  respective  homes,  and  to  their  joy, 
found  them  as  they  had  left  them,  and  they  never  had 
another  Indian  scare. 

Monday  morning  came,  full  of  sunshine  and  joy. 
The  news  that  the  Doctor's  folks  had  come,  ran  all 
through  the  neighborhood,  and  a  good  many  of  the 
men  came  to  see  if  they  could  do  anything  to  assist 
us — there  were  about  a  dozen  families  within  four 
miles — (Bro.  Howard  kept  the  stage  ottice,  and  Bro. 
Dilhvorth  the  post  office.)  Tlie  Doctor  secured  a 
carpenter  to  help  him.  He  had  dischargeil  the  team- 
ster we  had  brought  from  the  river;  got  another 
wagon  and  team,  loaded  on  our  goods  and  drove  to 
our  new  home,  and  it  was  very  necessary  that  I  should 
go  along  to  cook  for  the  men. 


200  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

"We  had  a  lot  of  shrubbery  in  boxes,  with  a  little 
dirt  in  the  bottom,  and  if  I  had  a  moment  to  spare  I 
wanted  to  be  setting  that  out  in  our  hedgerow,  and 
put  in  some  garden  seed,  as  it  was  then  the  first  day 
of  June. 

The  men  soon  had  the  iioor  down  and  the  stove  up, 
and  I  had  a  good  warm  dinner  on  the  table  in  the 
bright  sunshine,  and  they  all  partook  of  it  cheerfully; 
then  the  hammers  went  tip-tap  putting  ujd  scantling 
and  boards,  while  the  hired  man  broke  the  hedgerow, 
and  by  sundo^^Tl  we  had  our  rooms  almost  enclosed 
and  a  temporary  roof  on  the  house,  sufficient  to  cover 
our  beds ;  had  our  shrubbery  set  out  and  quite  a  garden 
made.  We  ate  supper,  and  by  nine  o'clock  were 
comfortably  situated  for  the  night.  We  himg  up 
some  quilts  and  carpet  in  the  part  of  the  house  that 
was  not  yet  boarded  up — they  had  worked  up  all 
the  lumber. 

I  looked  and  looked  all  day  to  see  if  we  had  any 
neighbors,  but  could  see  only  a  little  sod  hut  about 
two  miles  distant.  Most  of  the  people  settled  near  the 
timber  and  water,  but  when  it  became  dark  I  could  see 
the  glimmer  of  a  lamp  light  in  that  sod  hut.  Oh,  how 
it  cheered  my  heart.  We  awoke  refreshed.  The  Dr. 
cheerfully  started  teams  after  some  lumber  and 
shingles,  to  Tecumseh,  nineteen  miles  away.  Thought 
they  would  be  back  that  night. 

We  took  the  cotton  wood  we  used  for  our  roof  and 
made  a  small  window;  made  a  door  and  fixed  some 
shelves  to  set  things  on.  We  left  our  cupboard  at  the 
river  with  many  other  things — two  heavy  loads  in  all — 
which  we  could  not  bring  until  we  got  a  roof  to  cover 


FRONTIER    LIFE.  201 

them.  Nii^ht  came  but  no  liim])er,  which  did  ii<>t 
arrive  until  ten  o'clock  the  next  mornin«^.  We  spread 
some  tarred  ])aper  over  our  beds  that  kept  off  the 
dew.  AVhen  the  teams  came  next  day  they  had  not  a 
shingle  on  board,  but  the  promise  of  some  in  a  few 
days.  They  had  a  lot  of  stock  boards  and  some 
scantling. 

The  men  went  to  work  and  put  up  the  rafters  and 
nailed  on  the  sheathing,  and  this  made  us  (piite  com- 
fortal)le,  as  it  shut  out  the  sun,  and  we  ])egan  to  feel 
•  juite  at  lionie.  The  Doctor  liad  bought  a  very  line 
cow  for  forty  dollars. 

The  kind  neighbors  brought  us  in  quantities  of 
beautiful  lettuce,  raddishes,  onions  and  new  potatoes, 
and  some  one  came  to  welcome  us  every  day,  some 
from  as  far  as  ten  miles.  All  seemed  so  pleased  to 
think  they  had  a  good,  old  experienced  physician  in 
the  neighborhood,  although  they  did  not  expect  him  to 
ride  much.  We  had  been  there  nearly  a  week,  the 
weather  had  been  very  fine,  and  we  had  enjoyed  our- 
selves very  well,  only  we  feared  getting  a  wetting  if 
it  should  rain. 

We  spent  Sunday  afternoon  in  writing  to  our 
friends,  telling  of  our  safe  arrival  and  kind  reception; 
that  we  had  found  a  number  of  Illinois  friends  there, 
Mr.  Corbin,  Mr.  Filley  and  Mr.  Shaw;  that  they  had 
all  come  to  see  us  and  were  pleased  to  find  us  so  com- 
fortable. After  finishing  our  letters  we  all  retired  for 
the  night,  as  we  thought,  to  have  a  good  night's  rest, 
but  about  two  oVlock  there  came  a  severe  shower,  and 
the  rain  ])<)ured  down  through  the  sheeting  onto  the 
beds,  and    thnjugh    the   carpet   onto   our   beds  below. 


202  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

The  men  began  to  hnstle  down  the  ladder,  but  oh! 
there  was  no  refuge  there,  for  the  rain  poured  down 
through  the  cracks  of  the  chamber  floor  in  streams  as 
large  as  one's  flnger,  and  before  daylight  everything 
was  as  wet  as  if  they  had  been  taken  out  of  a  river. 
The  men  stretched  some  umbrellas  over  the  stove, 
kindled  a  Are  and  I  got  breakfast.  The  rain  slacked 
up  a  little,  and  by  noon  they  began  to  think  of  going 
after  the  shingles,  but  found  it  so  slippery  that  it 
would  not  do  to  attempt  it  that  day.  We  stood  it  as 
well  as  we  could  that  day  by  putting  on  one  wrapper 
after  another;  when  one  would  become  saturated 
we  would  wring  it  out  and  hang  it .  on  some  posts  the 
men  had  fixed  up  out  doors  between  showers;  the 
wind  blew  and  they  would  dry  some.  The  Doctor 
would  hold  the  umbrella  over  me  and  the  stove  while 
I  cooked  the  meals,  and  by  nightfall  it  had  cleared 
away  and  ceased  raining,  and  I  fixed  the  beds  as  com- 
fortable as  I  could  by  taking  every  thing  we  had  in 
trunks  and  boxes.  AVe  went  to  bed,  and  were  quite 
comfortable  in  comparison  to  the  night  before. 

Morning  came  and  brought  us  a  lovely  sunrise. 
My  grandson  said,  ''Grandma,  give  me  a  bite  of 
breakfast  and  I  will  see  if  I  can't  get  those  shingles 
here  and  get  a  roof  over  your  head  before  you  and 
grandpa  suffer  this  way  again."  He  was  soon  oif, 
and  by  four  o'clock  arrived  with  the  shingles. 
Everything  else  was  laid  aside,  even  the  two  breaking 
teams  were  stopped — Bro.  Corbin  was  plowing  for  us 
— and  he  took  a  hammer  and  went  to  work.  The 
Doctor,  my  grandson  and  Bro.  Corbin  all  worked  with 
energy,  I  assure,  for  there  was  a  cloud  in  the  west, 


FRONTIKK    MFK.  203 

and  we  feared  another  niiii  storm.  By  night  tliey 
had  the  last  shingle  nailed  on  the  west  side  of  the 
shanty:  I  had  the  beds,  (piilts,  etc.,  all  nicely  dried, 
and  we  set  the  beds  on  the  west  side  of  the  house  so 
the  roof  would  shelter  us  a  good  deal  if  it  should  rain. 
But  we  were  s])ured  a  wetting,  and  by  noon  they  had 
a  sj)lendid  roof  on,  the  only  frame  building  there  was 
to  be  seen  from  Tecumseh,  the  County  Seat  of  John- 
son county,  to  Beatrice,  the  County  Seat  of  Gage 
county,  a  distance  of  about  thirty -live  miles.  It  was 
called  the  ''  half-way  frame  house,"  by  a  great  many. 

Now  we  had  been  there  ten  days,  had  built  our 
frame  house,  broke  up  eight  acres  of  })rairie,  and  had 
it  planteil  in  corn,  squashes,  pumpkins,  melons  and 
cucumbers,  and  our  shrubbery  out,  garden  made, 
sweet  potato  plants  set,  and  I  assure  you  it  began  to 
look  like  home.  There  is  not  many  young  people  who 
Could  have  done  better  than  we  did.  AVe  hired  some 
men  to  dig  and  wall  up  a  well  close  to  the  shanty 
door.  We  bought  another  (piarter  section  of  land 
lying  on  Yankee  creek  that  had  forty  acres  of  timber 
on  it.  Some  of  the  best  in  the  county;  so  we  had  wood 
and  water. 

The  Doctor  hired  some  teams  to  haul  stone 
from  Mr.  Fillev's  quarry,  live  miles  distant,  cal- 
culating to  build  a  stf>ne  house — the  country 
abounded  with  splendid  building  stone,  but  none 
very  near  us. 

In  about  three  weeks  after  our  arrival  our  best 
horse  took  sick  and  died,  but  a  kind  j)rovidence  oi)ened 
the  way  so  we  were  enabled  to  buy  another  sj)an, 
although  horses   were   very  scarce  and  high  at  that 


204  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

time.  So  we  had  three  horses  to  plow  with,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  breaking  up  forty  acres  that  summer. 

"We  had  been  to  Bro.  Howard's  to  prayer  nieeting^ 
two  or  three  times.  They  were  in  hopes  of  haying- 
a  preacher  appointed  to  their  charge  at  the  next  con- 
ference. There  we  learned  that  there  would  be  a 
quarterly  meeting  on  the  5th  of  July  at  Beatrice. 
They  were  to  haye  a  celebration  on  the  4tli,  on  the 
bank  of  the  Big  Blue  riyer  in  a  beautiful  groye,  and 
Bro.  Leman  was  to  be  the  orator  of  the  day  on  the 
Fourth,  and  the  presiding  elder  on  Sunday. 

We  did  not  get  out  to  the  celebration,  but  started 
early  and  got  to  the  quarterly  meeting  in  time  for  the 
love  feast ;  and  how  surprised  and  delighted  we  were 
to  find  such  a  large  congregation  so  comfortably 
situated  in  that  beautiful  groye,  where  we  could  hear 
the  water,  not  of  the  Junietta,  but  the  Big  Blue  riyer, 
rippling  oyer  the  loyely  white  rocks  on  its  way  to  the 
Father  of  Waters,  adding  a  deep  solemnity  to  the 
deyotion  of  the  hour.  We  had  a  loye  feast  indeed,  glad 
to  mingle  together  in  Christian  deyotion  on  the  yery 
ground  and  in  the  groye  where  the  yell  of  the  say  age 
Indian  was  heretofore  only  heard,  and  the  posts  of  their 
wigwams  still  stood.  Bro.  Leman  preached  us  a  sacred 
gospel  sermon,  and  the  congregation  seemed  to  realize 
that  they  were  in  the  presence  of  the  Must  High. 
His  theme  was,  "Salyation  by  faith  on  the  Son  of 
God,"  at  the  close  of  which  the  elder  took  up  a  collec- 
tion for  the  supprort  of  the  gospel.  We  were  much 
surprised  when  we  heard  the  report  of  the  steward — 
twenty  dollars — especially  as  the  day  before  was  the 
Fourth.     The  elder  remarked  that  there  was  "more 


KKoNTIKR    MFK.  205 

tliJin  his  allowiinco,  such  a  thiiii^  as  SL*hlt>m  ucciutlmI; 
what  shall  he  cKnie  with  itT'  <  )ue  of  the  stewards 
rej)lied,  "  Put  it  ill  your  }>ocket,  Kl<ler,  to  pay  your 
horse  keepiu*]^,  1  see  you  had  to  jiut  it  up  at  the 
tavern."  The  Ehler  then  administered  the  sacrament 
to  nearly  one  hundred  communicants.  I  understood 
there  were  a  numher  of  them  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church.  A  good  nuiny  the  Methodists  had 
come  a  distance  of  ten,  fifteen  and  twenty  miles.  We 
then  received  the  benediction.  AVe  found  I^ro.  Ell- 
wood,  the  preacher  in  charge,  to  be  the  minister  who 
h\bored  so  faithfully  in  the  great  revival  at  liochelle, 
111.,  and  we  had  a  warm  greeting,  I  assure  you,  and 
we  were  kindly  invited  to  his  house,  met  his  dear 
family  with  great  pleasure;  formed  a  good  many  new 
ac([uaintances;  found  Bro.  Dorsey  there,  whose 
AC([uaintance  we  made  at  Brownsville  in  the  land 
office,  but  he  had  since  moved  to  Beatrice.  We  then 
and  there  made  the  acquaintance  of  Bro.  Dorsey 's 
dear  old  mother,  whose  family  was  among  the  lirst 
settlers  of  Brownsville;  they  helped  set  uj)  the  banner 
of  the  Lord,  and  nobly  did  they  sustain  every  effort 
that  was  made  t(j  spread  the  inlluence  of  literature, 
science  and  religion  over  that  new  country.  The  old 
gentleman  had  gone  to  his  reward,  and  the  dear  old 
lady  was  ready  to  enter  that  rest  that  remains  for  those 
"vvho  love  and  serve  the  Lord,  and  a  short  time  after, 
bid  adieu  to  mortality  with  a  bright  prosj)ect  of  an 
endless  life,  through  Christ,  our  Redeemer.  We  stayed 
all  night,  made  some  purchases,  and  returned  home  in 
safety. 

We  now  bciran  to  think  we  were  in  ac<»uiitrv  whiTe 


206  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

the  gospel  was  pretty  well  established.  The  Capital 
was  prospering  nicelv,  and  other  public  buildings  were 
going  up  rapidly,  and  the  city  settling  with  a  very  intelli- 
gent and  religious  class  of  people ;  our  county  offices 
were  filled  with  enterprising  men,  and  we  hoped  to 
see  the  time  when  the  thousands  of  acres  of  rich 
prairie  that  lay  around  would  be  settled  by  an  intelli- 
gent, religious  community. 

We  beofan  to  think  seriously  of  buildino:  a  more 
comfortable  house  for  wirter.  We  concluded  we 
would  have  to  give  up  the  idea  of  building  of  stone* 
as  there  were  several  streams  between  our  place  and 
the  best  stone  quary,  over  which  there  were  no 
brido^es.  They  o^ot  stuck  several  times  and  lost  their 
stone  in  the  creek,  and  finally  gave  it  up  and  con- 
cluded to  c^et  out  some  limestone  that  was  on  our  side 
of  Mud  creek  to  underpin  with  and  build  a  frame 
house,  for  if  they  got  stuck  there  they  could  be  pulled 
out  by  farmers  as  they  went  to  Brownsville  to  market 
their  wheat,  and  they  would  be  orjad  to  take  on  a  lio:ht 
load  of  lumber  and  bring  it  through  for  us  quite 
reasonable,  and  we  settled  our  minds  to  do  so. 

The  boys  got  out  and  hauled  the  stone,  while  the 
Doctor  and  Mr.  Corbin  laid  the  underpinning.  We 
found  a  good  carpenter  near  by;  the  farmers  brought 
on  the  lumber;  the  Doctor,  Bro.  Corbin  and  my 
grandson  all  worked  on  the  siding  and  shingling,  and 
by  the  middle  of  September  we  had  up  a  good  large 
frame  house  indeed,  with  a  brick  chimney,  ready  to 
occupy,  all  but  the  lathing  and  plastering — the  lath, 
lime  and  hair  were  in  Brownsville.  Bro.  Corbin 
wanted  to  return  to  Illinois  for  his  family,  so  Morris 


FRONTIKR    LIFE.  207 

P.  Roc,  our  grandson,  took  liim  to  Brownsville,  near  fifty 
miles  distant,  and  brought  the  material  fcjr  plastering. 
We  had  two  good  large  rooms  al>ove  and  below,  one 
Mow   much   the   largest,   so    that    we    could    have 
religious  meetings  in  it. 

Some  one  liad  to  go  tx)  Illinois  to  attend  to  some 
business.  The  Doctor  thought  1  could  attend  to  it  as 
well  as  he,  and  I  had  better  go  and  he  stay  to  see  to 
having  the  house  plastered  and  made  comfortable  by 
the  time  I  returned.  I  could  go  very  safely  with  Bro. 
Corbin.  I  hoped  my  son,  the  young  Doctor,  and  his 
family,  whom  we  left  at  Malta,  would  come  back  with 
me.  I  got  ready,  and  in  a  few  days  we  were  on  our 
way  to  Brownsville.  We  crossed  the  Missouri  river 
on  the  new  steam  ferryboat,  Mr  Rodgers  as  polite  and 
kind  as  ever;  g«>t  an  early  start,  and  by  four  o'clock 
we  were  safely  landed,  Mr.  Corbin  in  Rochelle  with 
his  family,  and  I  with  my  dear  children  in  Malta.  I 
found  them  quite  in  the  mind  to  go  home  with  me. 
The  young  doctor  said  he  could  not  think  of  our 
living  out  there  away  from  our  children,  and  he  felt 
it  hiii  duty  to  go  home  with  me,  and  his  wife  con- 
sented to  go.  So  in  a  few  weeks  we  had  our  business 
all  arranged  and  on  our  way.  The  Doctor's  wife  and 
children  were  on  the  cars  with  me.  We  had  a  pleas- 
ant tri}),  arrived  safely,  found  all  well  to  the  joy  of  all. 
The  Doctor  drove  through  with  a  span  of  horses  and 
a  buggy;  found  the  roads  pretty  bad,  but  got  to  the 
Missouri  river  in  about  twelve  days,  but  the  river  was 
frozen  over  so  the  ferryboat  C(juld  m»t  run,  but  not 
sufficiently  to  bear  up  a  team,  and  he  had  to  stay  there 
eight  or  ten  days. 


208  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

I  wrote  to  the  Doctor  as  soon  as  the  children  had 
decided  to  return  home  with  me,  and  he  was  delighted 
with  the  idea.  Just  about  this  time  the  scarlet  fever 
broke  out  at  Crab  Orchard  and  up  and  down  Yankee 
creek.  Up  to  this  time  the  Doctor  had  not  pre- 
scribed but  a  few  times  away  from  home,  but  con- 
stantly at  our  frame  house,  as  it  w^as  called,  every  day, 
more  or  less,  he  was  extracting  teeth,  lancing  tumors, 
etc.  They  came  to  him  from  twenty  mile  around,  as  we 
could  not  think  of  his  taking  those  long  rides;  we  felt 
as  though  he  had  done  his  duty  at  that  in  Illinois. 

The  settlers  on  the  creek  bottom  were  very  un- 
healthy, as  they  invariably  used  the  creek  water,  and 
lived  in  dugouts  or  sod  houses.  The  Doctor  advised 
them  to  get  out  on  high  land,  and  dig  wells,  and 
where  they  did  so  it  was  a  great  improvement  to  their 
health.  But  now  this  awful  disease  had  broken  out 
and  was  very  severe.  We  were  looking  for  our  son, 
the  young  doctor,  and  wished  to  hold  the  practice 
for  him.  He  consented  to  go,  and  met  with  his  usual 
success ;  but  when  the  fever  first  broke  out  the  people 
were  not  aware  of  the  danger — and  everybody  goes  to 
see  the  sick  in  a  new  country — and  it  spread  very 
rapidly. 

The  young  doctor  arrived  in  safety,  about  the  28th 
of  December  and  went  right  into  the  practice  and 
relieved  his  father.  We  had  some  neighbors,  a  Mr. 
Gale,  who  bought  a  section  of  land  of  Mr.  ]N"ewhall's 
partner,  who  had  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  broke 
on  it — had  moved  in  on  it  while  I  was  in  Illinois — 
and  brought  two  other  families,  a  son  and  son-in-law. 
They  went  in  and  stopped  with  the  Doctor  until  they 


FKONTIKK    LIKE.  2o9 

could  build  them  a  house  similar  to  our  suininer 
house,  oidy  iiiuch  large,  and  ])a])ered  it  with  heavy 
j)a|)er,  whicli  made  it  quite  comfortable.  They  built 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  their  section,  and  we  built 
on  our  northwest  corner,  that  made  the  distance 
between  our  houses  one  mile,  although  our  sections 
cornered — their  southeast  and  our  northwest  corners 
joined.  But  I  cannot  tell  the  comfort  it  was  to  our 
hearts  when  we  realized  that  w^e  had  kind  neighbors 
within  a  mile  of  us. 

They  thought  we  must  take  Christmas  dinner  with 
them.  Christmas  came,  but  no  young  doctor  arrived. 
This  was  a  great  disappointment  to  all,  but  we  went, 
hoping  every  moment  that  he  would  come;  but  he 
did  not  arrive  until  next  morning  about  ten  o'clock. 
AVe  were  permitted  to  welcome  him  to  our  new  home, 
whicli  was  warm  and  comfortable  and  contained  ])lenty 
to  eat,  with  joy.  AVe  related  to  him  the  particulars 
of  the  arrival  of  our  kind  neighbors,  and  the  pleasant 
interview  we  had  with  them  the  day  before,  and  the 
promise  we  had  fnjm  them  to  return  the  favor  on 
New  Years  day.  This  was  very  gratifying  to  him. 
lie  lia'd  worried  a  great  deal  about  our  being  out  there 
so  far  from  neighbors,  with  no  one  to  Ciire  for  us  if 
we  were  sick,  or  to  bury  us  if  we  should  die.  He 
could  scarcely  realize  that  he  was  at  our  new  home  in 
the  west,  but  it  was  so. 

We  had  not  gotten  over  our  lirst  gush  of  joy  when 
a  nice  looking  old  gentleman  rode  up  to  the  door  and 
inquired  if  the  young  doctor  had  arrived — the  whole 
neighborhood  was  in  anxious  exj)ectation  of  his  arrival. 
The  Doctor  answered,  *'  Yes,  13 ro.  Andrews,  he  has 


i^lO  RECOLLFXTIOXS    OF 

just  arrived;  I  hope  tliere  is  no  one  sick  that  you  need 
his  services."  "Yes,"  said  he,  "AVe  have  some  very 
sick  children  at  our  house,  and  we  want  him  to  go  to 
them  as  soon  as  possible;  and  there  are  others  in  the 
neighborhood  who  are  sick,  and  I  know  they  will  want 
him.  ''  AVell,"  said  the  Doctor,  ''  wont  you  come  in 
and  take  dinner  with  ns'^  it  is  just  ready,  then  I  think 
he  will  go  with  you."  The  old  gentleman  came  in. 
and  Morris  P.  Roe  fed  his  horse.  The  young  doctor 
requested  that  his  father  go  with  him  until  he  became 
a  little  acquainted  with  the  people.  His  father  con- 
sented, and  they  were  off  for  Mud  creek.  When  they 
arrived  they  found  the  people  living  in  a  dugout 
which  was  covered  with  mud  and  straw,  and  contained 
two  or  three  rooms,  and  three  very  sick  children. 

They  had  not  been  there  but  a  very  short  time 
when  a  gentleman  came  in  to  see  if  they  had  the 
Doctor  there ;  ''Yes,"  was  the  reply.  'T  am  glad  to  hear 
it ;  I  hope  now  we  will  not  have  to  go  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  for  a  doctor  and  then  not  get  him."  After  an 
introduction,  the  gentleman  asked  him  to  go  to  his 
house,  which  was  about  half  a  mile  distant,  saying- 
there  were  "two  or  three  very  sick  children  at  his 
house,  and  in  others."  As  soon  as  they  had  pre- 
scribed for  those  they  were  with,  they  went  to  the 
next  house,  and  so  on,  until  they  had  visited  four  or 
five  families,  and  prescribed  for  twelve  or  fifteen 
patients.  Tliis  was  a  pretty  good  call  for  the  first 
day.  Tlie  fact  was,  they  all  had  good  crops  of 
wheat,  but  had  put  off  their  threshing  until  cold 
weather,  and  they  had  nothing  but  old  tattered  shoes, 
some  of  the  boys  having  none;  they  all  had  to  help 


1 


FKONTIKK    LIFK.  lM  1 

each  other.  They  luid  been  very  much  exposed,  and 
as  all  lived  in  sod  houses  or  dugouts,  were  all  taken 
down  pretty  much  alike,  the  disease  Ijein^  j)neumonia, 
and  some  were  very  sick,  while  others  were  not  so 
bad.  This  tocjk  them  until  ten  o'clock,  and  we  were 
glad  to  see  them  safe  home  again. 

The  next  morning  they  went  into  the  scarlet  fever 
district;  some  were  better,  while  others  were  just 
coming  down.  All  were  very  thankful  to  see  the  new 
doctor,  feeling  he  would  relieve  his  father.  lie  was  very 
successful  in  ])rescriV)ing  for  his  j)atients.  Those  on 
Mud  creek  lost  none  Imt  very  small  children,  and  this 
success  gave  him  all  he  could  do,  and  from  day  to  day 
liis  practice  increased.  <  )ur  luaise  was  full  of  patients 
from  a  distance;  they  were  chronic  cases,  caused  by 
living  in  sod  houses  and  dugouts.  The  doctors  urged 
them  to  build  on  high  land;  haul  their  wheat  to  tlie 
river,  get  lumber  and  build,  if  it  was  but  small  houses. 
They  did  so  as  fast  as  they  possibly  could,  and  by  the 
next  spring  tlie  country  wore  a  different  aspect,  and 
many  who  were  almost  gone  with  chronic  diseases 
were  much  improved. 

We  liad  a  pleasant,  open  winter,  with  one  or  two  light 
falls  of  snow,  but  at  no  time  was  it  an  inch  deep.  AVe 
raised  an  abundance  of  very  tine  vegetables,  and  the 
fall  was  crowned  with  large  (quantities  of  gi-ai)es,  wild 
fruits,  and  tlie  finest  of  wild  ])lums,  and  we  gathered 
them  by  the  bag  full.  We  had  raiseil  a  considt-rable 
crop  of  sorghum,  and  had  it  manufactured  into  molasses 
at  a  nice  mill  within  two  miles  of  our  j)lace.  We  put 
up  a  great  deal  of  the  fruit  i^i  the  sorghum — the  nicest 
I  ever  saw. 


212  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Soon  after  tlie  young  doctor  came  we  bought  two 
hundred  pounds  of  very  nice  pork  at  ten  cents  per 
pound,  and  all  the  wheat  we  needed  at  iifty  cents  a 
bushel ;  so  we  were  provided  with  an  abundance  for 
the  winter,  warm  house  and  plenty  of  wood  and  water, 
and  felt  very  much  at  home.  Our  friends  met  with 
us  on  Xew  Years  day,  as  anticipated,  and  we  had  a 
nice,  social  time. 

The  spring  opened  nicely.  We  had  twenty  acres  of 
wheat  sown  and  our  crop  of  oats  in  by  the  15th  of 
AjDril.  "We  thought  we  would  set  out  a  nice 
grove  of  Cottonwood  on  the  west  side  of  our 
house.  The  Doctor  took  help  and  went  to  Mud 
creek  and  took  up  several  thousand  nice  cotton- 
wood  scions,  and  he  and  I  set  them  out.  Then 
we  went  to  Yankee  creek  and  got  a  number  of  goose- 
berry, raspberry  and  plum  bushes,  mountain  cherries 
and  some  nice  elm  shade  trees,  and  the  Doctor  and  I 
set  them  out  with  our  own  hands;  we  also  set  out  a 
nice  strawberry  bed.  There  came  along  a  fruit  peddler, 
of  whom  we  bought  fifty  apple  trees,  some  Siberian, 
also  cherry  and  plum  trees,  and  set  them  out.  We  tlien 
went  to  Mr.  Filley's  and  bought  fifty  peach  scious. 
They  had  brought  the  seeds  ^vith  them,  and  had 
planted  them,  and  they  were  then  iit  to  set  out,  and 
we  had  planted  quite  a  number  of  peach  seeds  we  had 
taken  with  us;  and  we  also  planted  some  grape  roots 
which  we  liad  brought  with  us,  and  I  assure  you,  our 
place  began  to  look  as  though  somebody  lived  there, 
and  intended  to  improve  it,  and  dear  husband  and  I 
enjoyed  it  very  much.  We  thought  if  we  should  not 
live  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  our  labor,  our  children. 


FRONTIER    IJFK.  213 

ini<]^lit,  an<l  we  did  it,  not  oidy  witli  ])li':isurc,  l)Ut  with 
deli^iflit.  The  Doctor  cultivated  it  with  a  sulky  plow 
whicli  he  boiii^lit  for  the  ])ur}>ose,  kept  it  perfectly 
clear  of  weeds,  and  it  grew  nicely  indeed. 

Tlie  young  Doctor's  wife  was  a  little  homesick  for 
a  little  while,  but  as  she  became  ac<iuainted  with  the 
people  and  the  country,  she  liked  it  very  well,  and  we 
found  in  Mr,  Gales'  familv,  and  their  children's 
family,  very  kind  neighbors  and  pleasant  associates. 
Their  children  were  near  the  age  of  the  Doctor  and 
wife,  and  they  enjoyed  each  others'  society  very  much. 

We  had  a  preacher  on  the  Crab  Orchard  charge  and 
could  attend  preaching  there  every  two  weeks.  Mr. 
Elijah  Filley  and  a  few  others  organized  a  school 
board  and  levied  a  tax  on  a  larfje  district  includintr  a 
good  deal  of  speculat(>rs'  land,  and  built  a  s]>lendid 
stone  school  house  and  furnished  it  with  charts  and 
globes,  and  started  a  splendid  school.  We  were 
invited  to  have  our  meetings  there.  We  had  held 
meetings  in  the  large  room  we  had  arranged  f(»r  that 
purpose  in  our  new  house,  and  at  one  time  we  sent 
fifteen  miles  for  Bro.  Ell  wood  to  come  and  hold  a 
protracted  meeting  with  us.  lie  had  came  a  numl)er 
of  times  and  preached  for  us,  and  we  had  our  room 
well  tilled  with  attentive  hearers;  we  had  to  send  a 
horse  and  buggy  after  him,  as  he  had  no  carriage  of 
his  own.  He  often  walked  out  to  appointments  near 
Beatrice,  but  this  was  too  far  for  him  to  walk. 

Mr.  Elwood  came,  and  there  was  a  general  turnout 
from  Mud  creek,  Yankee  creek,  Jk'ar  creek  and  Placer 
creek,  also.  Those  creeks  headed  in  tlie  bluffs  of  this 
large  tract  of  table   lands  where  we  had   settled,  and 


214  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

run  off  to  tlie  Big  Blue  river,  and  really  it  was  a  beau- 
tiful tract  of  country.  The  people  came  out  and  we 
liad  some  good  preaching,  and  good  resulted.  There 
were  some  who  dated  their  conviction  from  that  meet- 
ing, who  ultimately  found  the  pearl  of  great  price, 
and  became  useful  Christians,  but  who  Avere  very 
wicked  before;  and  if  the  meetings  had  continued,  I 
think  there  would  have  been  many  conversions ;  but 
there  came  a  severe  storm,  for  that  country,  and  the 
people  could  not  venture  out  with  their  children  at 
night,  and  the  meetings  were  closed  and  deferred  to 
some  other  time.  That  time  came  after  awhile,  and 
the  meeting  was  opened  at  the  new  stone  school  house 
in  the  Filley  district.  There  were  a  number  of  con- 
versions. A  class  of  fifteen  or  eighteen  was  formed, 
the  Doctor  put  in  as  leader,  and  that  charge  at- 
tached to  the  Blue  Springs  charge.  Bro.  Ellwood 
preached  there  every  two  weeks,  so  we  could  enjoy 
religious  services  every  Sabbath  by  going  to  one 
appointment  one  Sabbath  and  the  other  the  next. 

^Ve  had  a  good  many  pious  fi*iends  who  came 
to  the  Doctor's  for  prescriptions,  and  that  was 
a  great  comfort  to  us.  Among  them  was  an 
old  gentleman  and  wife  who  had  traveled  in 
the  Black  Eiver  Conference  for  forty  years  or 
more.  They  had  borne  tlie  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day  in  that  country  when  it  was  new.  He  had  been 
a  very  useful  minister  of  the  gospel  for  many  years ; 
had  seen  many  souls  converted  and  brought  to  a 
saving  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ,  and 
when  he  had  grown  old,  he  came  to  Xebraska  and 
located,  got  him  a  homestead,  had  it  nicely  improved. 


FRONTIKli    I.IFK.  215 

and  he  and  his  wife  wore  li\  injr  vurv  coinfurtahly  in 
their  okl  age:  l)Ut  their  Iiealth  was  very  pour.  They 
came  to  see  the  Doctor,  and  we  had  a  very  pleasant 
visit,  and  our  hearts  hurned  with  awe  wliile  we  talked 
of  the  rich  provision  made  for  a  sin-stricken  world  in 
the  atonement  of  a  crucified  Saviour;  and  we  parted 
with  the  blessed  hope  of  meeting  in  that  better  world, 
wiiere  we  would  praise  the  Lord  for  redeeming  grace 
and  dying  love.  We  had  (piite  a  number  of  such 
visits  from  the  old  veterans  of  the  Cross. 

The  presiding  elder,  Bro.  Leman,  made  us  several 
visits,  and  he  always  left  us  strengthened  in  the  good 
old  way — it  always  strengthened  our  hearts  to  see 
men  of  his  ability,  natural  and  acquired,  laboring  for 
the  good  of  the  church  and  j)recious  souls.  l>ro.  Mann 
came  to  see  us  often.  lie  was  always  fervent  in 
>])irit,  serving  the  Lord. 

The  voun<;  doctor  had  two  verv  interestin«;  children, 
a  daughter  about  six  years  old,  and  a  son  a  little  over 
four  years  of  age.  They  were  a  great  deal  of  comfort 
and  Company  to  us.  The  little  boy  was  always  with 
his  grandpa,  ready  to  carry  the  hammer  and  nails,  or 
anything  he  could  do  for  him,  and  the  little  girl  was 
with  me  most  of  the  time  when  working  in  the 
garden  dropping  seeds,  pulling  weeds,  picking  peas  or 
berries,  feeling  that  she  was  a  great  help,  and  she  was. 
When  in  the  house  she  would  be  at  my  side  learning 
to  knit  or  sew,  making  chjthes  for  dolly,  hemming  a 
}>ocket  handkerchief  for  her  pa  or  grandpa.  And  tlnis 
the  spring  passed  by  very  pleasantly. 

Our  crops  began  to  ripen,  and  it  nnuU'  pretty  i>usy 
tinjes   with   evervbodv,   and   soon    the    harvest   was 


216  KECOLLECTIONS   OF 

gathered.  Grandpa  had  a  nice  patch  of  melons  of  all 
kinds,  and  the  children  as  well  as  the  rest  enjoyed 
them  very  much.  The  young  doctor  was  busy  with 
his  patients  and  long  rides,  and  his  wife  was  busy 
helping  about  the  house  work,  and  all  preparing  for 
winter.  The  corn,  cabbages,  beans  and  j^otatoes  had 
all  ripened  nicely.  We  had  a  fine  crop  of  tomatoes, 
ground  cherries  and  citrons,  and  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  wild  fruit,  and  our  sorghum  was  very  nice, 
so  we  pickled  and  preserved  a  great  deal  of  such 
things  and  stowed  them  away  in  our  cellar. 

We  killed  a  nice  fat  jDig,  and  made  ready  for  our 
journey  to  Illinois ;  it  was  necessary  for  us  to  attend 
to  some  business,  we  wished  to  make  a  short  visit  and 
hoped  to  bring  some  of  our  children  home  with  us. 
The  weather  up  to  this  time  had  been  very  pleasant. 
One  of  our  neighbors,  an  Illinois  acquaintance,  was 
going  to  N^ebraska  City  with  a  light  load  of  wheat, 
and  said  he  would  put  on  a  nice  spring  seat  and  take 
us  to  the  Missouri  river.  The  day  we  started  it  froze 
pretty  hard.  That  night  we  stopped  with  some 
Chicago  friends  who  lived  on  the  road  about  half 
way  to  the  city.  They  had  been  up  to  our  place  on 
a  visit  and  to  get  medical  advice;  we  had  a  nice  time, 
and  they  wished  very  much  that  we  would  stop  and 
see  them  when  we  made  this  trip,  and  we  promised 
to  do  so.  We  got  there  about  dusk,  they  gave  us  a 
hearty  welcome  and  a  good  night's  entertainment, 
and  next  morning  drove  into  the  city  with  us.  Their 
name  was  Squiers,  and  my  husband  was  their  family 
physician  while  we  lived  in  Chicago.  Sister  Squiers 
and  I  belonged  to  the  same  class,  attended  female 


FRONTIKK    LIKK.  '2  1  T 

prayer  meeting  regularly  every  week,  and  iM.tli 
belonged  to  a  teni])erance  organization  e4illed  the 
Daughters  of  Rechab,  which  was  very  useful  in  that 
city.  ^fr.  S<|uiers  said  he  feared  we  could  not  cross 
the  river;  it  was  not  frozen  hard  enougli  yet,  but  it 
might  be  in  tlie  morning,  so  we  would  go  on  to  the 
city,  and  if  we  could  not  cross  we  could  nuike  a  good 
visit  with  liis  brother^s  family  who  lived  near  there. 
We  started  for  the  city  and  arrived  there  about  one 
o'clock,  and  fuund  uur  friends  well  and  glad  to  see  us. 
The  doctor  found  Elder  Leman,  who  made  liis  home 
in  the  city,  and  he  was  waiting  anxiously  for  the 
river  to  freeze  so  he  could  go  over  to  a  <|uarterly 
meeting,  and  he  informed  us  he  would  accompany  us 
on  the  cars  for  some  distance.  It  snowed  a  little  and 
froze  very  hard.  The  elder  came  and  told  us  it  would 
do  to  cross  on  foot.  So  we  bid  our  friends  good-bye, 
took  our  satchels  and  walked  to  the  river.  It  looked 
dangerous;  I  had  crossed  it  in  a  scow,  a  sail  boat  and 
steamboat,  but  it  never  looked  so  dangerous  to  me 
before.  I  advised  my  husband  to  wait  another 
night,  but  just  as  we  were  trying  to  decide,  a  teamster 
with  a  light  load  drove  onto  the  ice.  We  watched 
him  closely,  fearing  every  moment  we  would  see  him, 
horses,  wa^^on  and  <;rain,  all  sink  throuj'h  the  ice.  We 
could  hear  the  ice  crack,  but  he  reached  the  other  side, 
and  cried  out,  ''Safe!  come  on."  The  elder  starteil  on 
lirst.  Pa  said,  '*Ma,  do  you  think  you  Ciin  venture?" 
*'  Yes,"  said  I,  'Mf  you  will  let  me  hold  your  arm 
closely."  ''Well,  let's  try  it,"  said  hi'.  I  thought  if 
one  went  to  the  bottom  t(»  be  buried  in  the  mu«l,  I 
would    rather   have    Ujth    go    together.      The    elder 


218  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

stepped  very  cautiously  ahead,  and  frequently  would 
stop  and  examine  the  ice,  and  then  remark,  "  Come 
on,  doctor,  all  safe."  And  in  about  half  an  hour  we 
were  relieved  of  our  anxiety,  suspense,  and  I  must 
acknowledge,  trembling  fear,  for  every  time  I  moved 
my  foot  on  the  ice  I  was  afraid  it  would  go  right 
through ;  it  did  not  look  thicker  than  a  heavy  pane  of 
glass.  But  we  reached  the  east  shore  in  safety,  and 
we  were  truly  thankful  for  the  mercy  shown  by  the 
Divine  Hand  which  had  led  ns  through  such  great 
danger. 

On  the  east  bank  we  had  a  very  line  view  of  the 
city,  we  could  see  the  Court  House,  and  the  majestic 
old  Capital  Theological  Institute  which  stood  on  a 
beautiful  eminence.  ^Vhen  we  got  into  the  car  Elder 
Leman  gave  us  an  introduction  to  the  President  of 
the  College  who  was  going  to  Council  Bluffs.  We 
enjoyed  the  conversation,  and  found  him  to  be  a  very 
social  and  intelligent  Christian  gentleman,  who  was 
trying  to  do  all  the  good  he  could  in  this  new  coun- 
try for  the  spread  of  the  gospel,  education,  and  social 
society.  We  gave  him  our  good  wishes,  and  separated 
at  the  Bluffs.  I  loved  to  look  at  them;  I  gazed  to 
catch  the  last  glimpse,  there  is  so  much  natural 
beauty  and  grandeur  about  them.  Then  we  took  the 
C.  B.  (fe  Q.  road,  passed  through  Cass  county,  on 
to  Cirinnell.  There  we  took  a  new  road,  I  think 
they  called  it  the  Iowa  Central,  intersecting  the 
Northwestern  at  Marshalltown,  passed  on  to  Cedar 
Bapids,  and  reached  our  son's  about  twelve  o'clock. 
Attended  Fairview  church  on  Sabbath.  Found  two 
of  our  grand-children  very  sick  with  t^^^hoid  fever; 


FRONTIKR    I.IKK.  211* 

our  son  just  getting  over  the  worst  <)f  the  same  fever. 
Stayed  with  them  several  ihiys,  then  passed  on  to  Ogle 
oonnty.  111,,  juid  at  night  we  reached  our  friends  in 
Jl(,»chelle  during  one  of  the  most  severe  storms  I 
ever  witnessed.  It  hlowed  and  snowed  a  perfect  tem- 
pest, (h-ifted  the  track  so  the  trains  could  not  run  for 
more  than  a  week;  now  the  first  part  of  February, 
1S70,  and  we  were  so  shut  up  we  could  not  visit  our 
friends  as  we  had  anticipated.  Gladly  would  we  have 
visited  many,  many  of  our  dear  old  friends,  hut  we 
look  to  a  blessed  reunion  in  our  Father's  liouse  where 
our  l)lessed  Savit>r  t(»ld  us  there  were  nuiny  mansions. 
An<l  we  thought,  perlia])s,  we  would  live  to  come 
again  and  visit  when  it  would  be  more  pleasant 
weather. 

A  number  whom  we  met  said  to  tlie  Doctor,  *'  Oh, 
I  am  so  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  well;  you  have  not 
failed  much  since  you  left  us;  why,  you  look  good  for 
twenty  years  yet,  and  hope  we  nuiy  have  many  more 
good  visits.-' 

'•  Yes,"  said  I,  "if  it  was  not  for  that  scarey  old 
ri\ei',  which  is  always  in  the  way,  we  might  stay  and 
have  a  good  visit  now.'' 

I  have  always  regretted  that  we  did  not,  but  just  as 
soon  as  soon  as  the  track  was  cleared  and  it  began  to 
thaw,  we  had  to  hurry  to  get  over  before  the  ice 
rotted,  making  it  unsafe  for  us  to  cross,  for  sometimes 
it  takes  a  month  or  more  for  the  ice  to  run  out,  so  we 
ha<l  to  hurry. 

As  1  said  before,  we  left  Dr.  F.  C.  Roe's  about  the 
15th  of  February,  at  two  o'clock  Saturday  afterntMHi. 
Arrived  at  Sterling  and  waited  for  train   fn»m    liock- 


220  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

ford  to  Eock  Island  until  four  o'clock.  Arrived  at 
Rock  Island  about  sundoAvn  during  a  severe  snow  and 
hail  storm.  We  had  to  change  cars  and  go  on  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  (fe  Quincy  road.  This  was  severe 
on  us,  for  we  got  quite  damp,  and  did  not  get 
dry  thorouglily  until  next  morning,  at  Council  Bluffs. 
It  was  a  very  unpleasant  night,  the  storm  beating 
heavily  against  the  cars,  and  often  I  thought  the  wind 
would  surely  blow  the  train  into  the  ditch ;  but  morn- 
inof  liaht  found  us  all  alive  and  safe  at  Council 
Bluffs.  AVe  were  soon  hurried  to  a  good  tavern,  where 
a  orood  breakfast,  warm  room  and  nice  bed  was  fur- 
nished,  where  we  could  be  alone  or  go  into  the  parlor 
as  we  chose.  We  hoped  to  get  back  over  the 
river  some  time  that  night,  and  spend  the  Sabbath  at 
Xebraska  City.  They  were  holding  a  protracted  meet- 
ing there,  and  we  should  have  enjoyed  that  very  much^ 
but  heard  that  the  river  was  impassable,  and  made  up 
our  minds  to  stay  at  the  Bluffs  until  we  could  pass 
over.  The  Doctor  went  to  church,  but  it  was  so  slip- 
pery I  did  not  venture  out.  About  two  o'clock  a  lady 
came  in  on  a  train  just  from  Xebraska  City,  saying 
she  crossed  on  foot,  and  they  thought  it  could  be 
crossed  until  eight  o'clock.  There  was  a  train  going 
to  the  city  at  four  o'clock,  so  we  concluded  that  we 
would  take  that  train,  hoping  to  cross  in  safety  and 
get  to  the  evening  meeting.  So  we  went  to  the  depot, 
found  the  train  just  ready  to  start,  and  had  a  very 
pleasant  ride  do^vn  the  valley  to  the  city.  AYlien  we 
arrived  there  they  told  us  it  was  impossible  to  cross 
with  the  cab  but  they  would  take  us  to  the  ice  in  the 
cab,  then  conduct  us  as  safely  as  they  could ;  at  the  other 


FRONTIER    LIFE.  221 

side  we  would  tind  the  Cincinnati  lluuse  cab  awaiting 
us,  and  we  were  anxious  to  get  to  our  old  tavern  be- 
cause we  knew  the  pro})rietor  would  attend  the  meet- 
ing, and  we  wished  to  go  with  them  and  hear  Brother 
Alexander  preach,  so  we  concluded  to  try  it.  The 
joung  man  that  offei*ed  to  guide  us  over  said  it  was 
very  dangerous,  the  ice  was  full  of  holes,  but  as  they 
had  been  walking  liack  and  forth  most  of  the  day, 
though  they  could  guide  us  safely  over  if  we  would  be 
verv  careful.  Thev  had  seen  the  ice  crumbliuir  off 
«'\round  the  holes  a  good  deal.  When  I  got  out  of  the 
cab  and  stepped  on  the  ice,  my  heart  fairly  leaped,  and 
I  shuddered  all  over,  but  they  moved  cautiously  on 
and  we  followed  very  carefully,  and  as  we  looked  on 
either  side  we  could  see  great  holes,  and  they  looked 
as  th(jugh  they  would  break  through  fi'om  one  to  the 
other  every  moment,  but  we  moved  very  cautiously, 
and  gradually  neared  the  other  shore,  the  men  on 
both  shores  cheering  us.  At  length  we  reached  shore, 
and  I  cried  out  from  the  sincerity  of  my  heart,  "Praise 
the  Lord;  my  feet  are  on  Nebraska  soil  once  more." 

We  found  the  cab  awaiting  us,  and  were  safely 
conveyed  to  the  Cincinnati  House,  where  we  received 
kind  welcome.  AV^e  found  our  kind  old  friends  at  tea. 
We  partook  with  them,  after  which  they  lit  a  lantern 
and  led  the  way  to  church;  oh!  what  a  splendid  church, 
what  a  large  congregation,  and  oh  I  what  a  sermon 
from  the  lips  of  dear  Bro.  Alexander,  lie  was  not 
much  larger  than  a  fifteen  year  old  boy,  light  com- 
plexion, smooth-faced,  clear,  bright  eyes,  a  smooth, 
strong  voice,  and  every  word  was  clothed  with  tlie 
spirit  of  the  Most  High. 


222  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Tliey  were  just  closing  their  meetings.  There  had 
been  a  2:reat  manv  conversions  durino^  the  meetinscs, 
and  they  were  rejoicing  in  the  Lord,  but  still  there 
were  many  who  had  resisted  the  Lord  and  the  spirit 
of  grace,  and  were  saving  to  themselves,  "  Woe  is  me, 
the  harvest  is  passed  and  I  am  not  saved ;  I  may  not 
live  to  see  another  revival  meeting."  There  was  a 
great  deal  of  deep  feeling  there.  The  chnrch  seemed 
a  sacred  place  on  account  of  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 
Many  praying  fathers  and  mothers,  who  had  dedicated 
their  sons  and  daughters  to  the  Lord  in  the  ordinance- 
of  baptism,  and  watched  over  them  for  a  good  many 
years,  hoping  they  would  yield  and  be  saved  by  grace,, 
and  especially  during  this  meeting,  must  see  the 
meetings  close  without  their  loved  ones  giving  any 
evidence  of  pardoned  sin,  and  a  fixed  purpose  to  serve 
the  Lord,  which  occasioned  some  deep  feeling.  The 
meeting  closed  with  a  good  old-fashioned  Methodist 
hand-shake,  and  some  appropriate  singing. 

Just  as  we  were  going  out  of  the  church  a  great 
crushing  noise  was  heard.  I  inquired,  ''  What  does 
that  mean?"  The  reply  was,  " It  is  the  ice  breaking 
up,  and  is  rushing  out  through  the  channel."  Oh  J 
how  thankful  I  was  to  the  Lord  for  our  preserva- 
tion through  that  hour  of  peril  and  danger.  Those 
dear  old  folks  in  the  Cincinnati  House  were  among 
some  of  the  very  iirst  standard  hearers  in  that  now 
large  city.  They  held  their  first  meetings  in  their 
little  log  house,  while  the  Indians  yelled  and  hooted 
around  them,  but  that  night  they  worshipped  in  one 
of  the  noblest  churches  I  ever  saw. 

We  had  a  good  night's  rest  with  our  old  pioneer 


FKoMIKK     I. IKK.  '223 

friends,  Jiiid  after  u  ^^,,0(1  warm  l>reakfa>t,  and  ]>rayers 
in  their  private  parlor,  and  manv,  many  warm,  earnest 
wishes  tliat  we  tw«»  mi«^lit  be  successfnl  in  lMiildin«^ 
np  our  new  home,  and  in  luddin*^  up  tlie  hanner  of 
the  Lord,  we  took  our  seats  in  the  sta<^e,  which 
runs  frnni  Nebraska  City  to  Beatrice,  our  county 
seat,  and  started  for  <»ur  home  forty  miles  away.  The 
stiige  run  within  a  (puirter  of  a  mile  <»f  our  house. 
On  our  way  we  met  our  grandson,  who  had  come  to 
meet  us,  and  we  were  thankful  for  it,  because  the  stage 
was  a  miserable  old  rickety  thing.  AVe  arrived  at  our 
home  next  day,  found  all  well  and  they  were  very 
glad  to  see  us.  And  we  could  say  with  the  poet 
"there  is  no  place  like  home,"  «ven  if  it  were  far 
away  in  the  west.  The  doctor  seemed  much  invigor- 
ated from  his  visit  to  the  country  where  he  had  spent 
thirty  years  of  his  life.  The  best  ]»art  of  his  man- 
hood had  been  spent  in  Illinois  in  liock  River  \'alley 
visiting  and  relieving  the  sick,  with  great  acceptability 
and  success.  Oh  I  how  cordially  would  his  friends 
grasp  his  hand  and  say  to  him,  '*  Doctor,  we  are  so 
pleased  to  see  you  stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  frontier 
life  so  well  in  vour  old  aj^e."  One  j'entleman  said  to 
him,  '*  Doctor,  you  look  as  though  you  were  good  for 
twenty  years  yet."  *'Oh,  yes,"  said  he,  "Ihaveagooddeid 
of  j»hysical  energy  yet,  but  seventy-oneyears  have  made 
their  impression  on  my  system."  "  I  hope  you  may  live 
to  make  us  a  number  of  pleasant  visits  yet,"  said  the 
old  gentleman,  "it  does  us  a  great  deal  of  g(»od  to 
shake  the  hand  that  has  ministered  to  the  relief  of 
}>ain  so  often,  and  it  d<>es  gratify  our  feelings  to  look 
upon  the  noble  form  that  has  Ijent  over  the  sick-l>ed 


224  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

of  ourselves  and  families  so  often,  to  our  great  relief. 
Don't  jou  remember  when  you  was  called  to  my  dear 
wife  when  she  was  so  dangerously  sick,  and  how  soon 
you  relieved  her?  and  how  sick  the  children  were 
with  scarlet  fever,  and  how  you  saved  them  to  us, 
while  other  doctors  were  losing  almost  every  patient  ? 
And  well  do  I  remember  how  kind  and  attentive  you 
were  to  me  when  I  had  that  severe  spell  of  typhoid 
fever ;  I  expected  to  go  then,  but  you  stuck  to  me  so 
faithfully  and  brought  me  out,  and  I  have  had 
remarkable  health  ever  since,  and  have  been  able  to 
raise  my  family,  when  had  it  not  been  for  your  skill, 
kind  attention  and  care  I  certainly  would  have  gone 
-and  left  my  family'  orphans  to  shuffle  through  the 
world  alone.  You  must  allow  myself  and  others  to 
express  to  you  our  gratitude." 

'*Ah,"  said  the  doctor,  "Heuben,  you  must  remem- 
ber the  Lord  was  in  all  this,  to  Him  you  owe  the 
gratitude.  The  Lord  has  led  me  all  my  days,  and  to 
Him  be  all  the  glory  if  I  have  ever  done  any  good." 
This  was  not  the  only  expression  of  this  character 
given  him  while  on  this  visit.  Although  we  were 
shut  in  by  snow  and  storm,  we  met  with  many  of  our 
■old  friends;  the  expressions  from  them  were  of  similar 
character,  and  the  answer  was  much  the  same;  every 
good  gift  is  of  the  Lord.  I  have  ever  been  thankful 
the  Lord  permitted  us  to  make  that  visit,  although 
we  passed  through  so  many  dangers  to  accomplish  it, 
especially  thankful  after  the  results  of  a  few  months. 

Xow  it  was  the  latter  part  of  March,  1871,  and  it 
was  time  to  look  around  and  see  about  putting  in  the 
crops.     We   were   fortunate   in   hiring   a  very  good 


FRONTIKK    I.I  IK.  225 

mail,  ami  <»ur  i^raiulson  was  there  to  helj)  ns.  "We 
liad  t\v«>  ^ood  teams,  and  had  i'ortv  acres  uf  fall  hreak- 
in«^  done  for  corn.  The  Doctor  was  cheerful,  and 
tin  night  he  saw  the  openiiii^  for  a  line  crop. 

The  Doctor  and  1  ke})t  our  shrubbery  clean  and  put 
in  a  tine  <j^arden  and  a  nice  crop  of  j)otat()e8,  while  the 
])oys  put  in  about  twenty -live  acres  of  spring  wheat, 
twenty -live  of  oats,  ten  of  barley  and  forty  of  corn. 
The  next  thing  was  to  plant  the  hedge-row  all  around 
the  section.  This  was  broken  on  the  section  when  we 
bought  it.  They  broke  it  well  the  year  before,  and  now 
it  was  broken  again  and  harrowed  finely,  then 
re-harrowed  until  it  was  as  fine  as  a  bed  in  a  flower 
garden,  then  laid  off  precisely  in  the  middle  and  the 
osage  seed  drilled  in.  The  hired  man  had  arranged 
with  the  Doctor  that  when  that  was  done,  he  was  to 
take  time  to  go  west  and  find  him  a  homestead  about 
sixty  miles  distant.  lie  worked  very  diligently  until 
It  was  ready  to  receive  the  seed — it  was  necessary  to 
have  the  furrow  that  was  to  receive  the  seed  smooth 
and  straight. 

The  young  Doctor  had  all  he  could  possibly  attend 
to — his  fatlier  going  out  as  counsel  occasionally.  His 
rides  lengthening  constantly — way  out  into  Johnson 
and  down  into  Pawnee,  even  to  County  Seat,  Pawnee 
City — often  as  far  as  thirty  miles,  lie  Wiis  from 
home,  and  the  grandson  had  gone  to  plow  some  on 
his  homestead.  "Xow,"  said  the  Doctor,"  I  can  help 
the  man  lay  off  that  furrow;  I  have  wanted  to  do  that, 
Ixjcause  I  can  lay  it  off  straighter  than  either  of  the 
boys;  but  I  knew  you  would  allol)jectto  my  dcjingit,but 
I  shall  take  jdeasure  in  it."  I  insisted  on  his  not  doing 


226  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

it,  but  he  said,  "Oh!  it  will  do  me  more  good  than 
harm ;  I  would  like  to  handle  the  plow  once  more. 
Harness  the  horses  and  we  will  be  off."  "Oh!  pa,"  said 
I,  "don't  go,  it  is  quite  warm,  and  it  might  make  you 
sick,  or  you  might  be  sun  struck."  "Oh!  no,"  said  he, 
"  I  think  not;  I  will  go  out  and  try  it;  I  feel  very  well 
this  morning."  By  this  time  they  were  off.  He  seemed 
to  feel  very  much  like  a  boy  going  into  a  new  job. 
The  young  Doctor's  wife  and  I  watched  them  until  they 
hitched  onto  the  j^low  and  started  off  nicely.  They 
left  the  wagon  where  they  hitched  onto  the  plow;  but 
they  had  gone  onl}^  about  a  mile  on  the  hedge  row? 
when  the  Doctor  said,  "  Hold  on,  I  am  about  to  fall ; 
I  feel  very  strangely."  Mr.  Maine  ran  to  him,  and 
he  let  go  the  plow  handles,  and  Mr.  Maine  steadied 
him  a  few  steps  to  the  grass,  where  he  sat  down.  The 
man  said,  "Doctor,  I  will  go  and  get  the  wagon  and 
take  you  home."  "Oh!  no,"  said  he,  "get  a  little 
water  and  bathe  my  head  and  chest ;  I  will  get  over  it 
in  a  little  while;  it  is  just  a  dizzy  spell."  He  ran  to 
the  creek,  it  was  but  a  few  steps — they  had  a  cup 
along — got  some  water,  bathed  his  head,  unbuttoned 
his  collar,  bathed  his  chest,  and  he  soon  breathed 
quite  easy.  He  remarked  to  Mr.  Maine,  "As  soon  as 
I  centered  my  eyes  on  the  beam  of  the  plow  I 
felt  sick  at  my  stomach,  and  grew  very  dizzy, 
and  should  have  fallen  if  you  had  not  caught 
me ;  but  don't  say  anything  to  my  folks  about  it ;  they 
will  be  so  alarmed  about  it;  I  don't  think  it  is  any- 
thing serious.  Lay  off  the  hedgerow  as  best  you  can 
and  let  it  go;  I  felt  a  good  deal  of  pride  in  having  it 
laid  off  straight,  but  let  it  go.     You  will  not  be  here 


FKONTIKK    LIKK.  227 

ngain  for  an  hour  or  more,  and  if  I  liad  my  cane  I 
mi<:;ht  walk  home  across  tlie  section;  it  would  only  be 
about  a  mile."  Mr.  Maine  looked  around  and  picked 
uj)  a  stick  that  had  been  dropped  there.  "I  can  walk 
with  that,"  said  the  Doctor,  "but  you  had  better  come 
ntund  with  the  wagon,  I  may  not  feel  like  walking, 
and  then  you  can  take  me  home  in  it." 

After  he  had  lain  there,  perhaps  an  hour,  he  took  his 
-tick    and    walked  home  very    slowly.      I    saw    him 

•  •oming,  took  my  staff  and  went  to  meet  him.  He 
>aid  he  thought  it  was  ''too  warm  for  him  to  hold  the 
plow,  and  Maine  thought  he  could  do  it  himself,  and 
I  concluded  I  would  come  home."  lie  took  the  rock- 
in<i:  chair  and  I  ofave  him  a  drauirht  of  i'ood  cool 
water.  He  rested  awhile  and  then  laid  do\m  on  his 
lounge,  took  a  pleasant  na]),  awoke  and  ate  his  dinner 
as  usual. 

Mr.  Maine  finished  the  hedge  planting  and  started 
started  the  next  day  for  his  homestead.  Nothing  was 
learned  by  the  family  about  this  incident  until  ^Ir. 
Maine  returned  home.  Previous  to  this — the  latter 
part  of  April,  after  our  return  from  Illinois — the 
Doctor  was  attacked  with  congestion  of  the  lungs, 
something  he  had  been  subject  to  from  the  earliest  of 
our  acquaintance,  as  often  as  once  in  two  or  three 
vears.  Two  or  three  time  I  thouijht  it  would  be  his 
last,  but  there  would  be  some  means  sanctified  to  his 
recovery;  but  this  time  he  was  more  violently  attackeil 
than  I  ever  saw  him.  He  had  been  (piite  well  and 
busily  engaged  making  garden  and  superintending 
the   farming    business;    ate  suj)j>er  as   usual;  seemed 

•  lieerful;  had    prayers    as   usual,  and    when   he   arose 


228  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

from  liis  knees  lie  said,  "  Ma,  I  am  afraid  I  am  going 
to  have  a  spell  of  that  congestion  on  my  lungs,  I  feel 
great  pain  in  them."  I  asked  him  if  he  would  take 
something  to  relieve  the  pain.  He  told  me  wliat  to 
get;  he  took  it  and  went  to  bed,  but  not  to  rest;  he 
was  in  great  agony,  and  I  called  the  young  Doctor.  He 
came  immediately,  and  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  room 
he  said,  "  Pa,  you  are  very  sick."  "Yes,  indeed  I  am," 
said  he,  "if  I  don't  get  relief  soon  I  shall  not  live  until 
morning."  "What  shall  I  do  for  you?"  said  the 
young  Doctor.  "Give  me  a  lobelia  emetic."  He  did 
so,  and  it  relieved  him  some,  but  he  continued  very 
sick  for  several  days,  I  think  about  ten  days,  some- 
times better  and  then  worse,  so  that  we  despaired  of 
his  life  for  several  days.  The  young  Doctor  did  not 
leave  the  room  day  nor  night  during  that  sickness. 

The  congestion  left  the  lungs  and  receded  to  his 
heart,  then  he  had  a  dreadful  bad  spell.  It  then 
receded  to  the  pleura.  He  said  he  could  feel  it  as 
plainly  as  he  could  feel  the  hand  on  the  surface. 
From  there  it  receded  to  the  spine,  then  the  Doctor 
got  control  of  it  and  gave  relief.  He  said  to  me  when 
he  began  to  feel  easier,  "Well,  Ma,  I  think  we  have 
routed  that  congestion  from  place  to  place  until  we 
have  cleared  it  out  of  my  system,  and  I  shall  never 
suffer  from  it  again."  He  was  very  weak  and  much 
reduced  in  flesh,  and  it  took  him  some  time  to  conva- 
lesce, but  he  came  up  nicely,  and  in  about  two  weeks 
was  able  to  ride  to  Beatrice  in  a  very  easy  buggy. 

In  a  few  days  he  went  to  Tecumseh,  the  county 
seat  of  Johnson  county.  He  had  been  selling  a  piece 
of  land,  and  went  there  to  make  out  the  papers.     It 


FRONTIKIi    I.IKK.  229 

was  a  ]>retty  l«»n«;  riile  ft»r  him,  und  lie  htayeil  over 
Tiii^'lit  witli  ^fr.  Charles  Mayberry,  the  gentleman  who 
went  with  us  to  look  uj)  our  land  on  nur  first  trip. 
He  returned  home  next  day  about  noon.  ficliuL'"  nnich 
invigorated  by  his  ride  and  visit. 

We  had  been  talking  of  going  to  lilue  Springs  to 
quarterly  meeting,  which  was  about  nineteen  miles 
distant.  We  had  been  there  a  number  of  times  and 
enjoyed  it  very  much.  But  we  all  thought  it  would 
l)e  too  much  for  the  Doctor;  but  after  having  stood 
this  ride  so  well  he  thought  we  might  go  to  (juarterly 
meeting;  so  we  concluded  to  go,  as  there  would  be  some 
time  for  him  to  rest.  p]arlv  Saturdav  morniiii;  we 
started,  had  a  pleasant  ride,  got  there  in  good  time, 
heard  Elder  Leman  preach  a  good  sermon,  stayed  all 
night  at  Bro.  Ell  wood's,  our  former  ])reacher  at 
Bethel  church.  White  Hock  Township,  near  our  last 
home  in  Illinois.  They  were  glad  to  see  us,  as  they 
had  not  met  us  for  some  time. 

Sabbath  morning  we  had  a  good  old-fashioned  love 
feast  and  the  Doctor  enjoyed  it  very  much.  Ileandniany 
<jthers  were  so  happy  thev  scarcely  knew  whether  they 
were  in  the  body  or  not.  He  exhorted  more  than  was 
usual  on  such  occasions,  pleading  with  the  brethren 
to  live  faithful  to  the  cause  of  the  Master,  especially 
the  young;  said  he,  '*8oon,  and  perhaps  very  soon, 
us  old  wlks  who  are  l)earing  the  burden  and  iieat  of 
the  day  will  drop  off  of  the  stage,  and  go  to  that 
better  W(>rld,  and  then  those  resjHjnsibilities  will  fall 
on  you.  ( )  how  nciir  you  ought  to  live  to  (tckI  by 
faith  and  humble,  devoted  })rayer.'"  There  was  deep 
feeling;  some  praye<l,  some  wej)t,  while  others  shouted 


230  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

— it  was  a  love  feast  indeed.  Just  as  the  love  feast 
was  over,  public  worship  commenced.  The  Doctor 
sung  a  beautiful  hymn  of  a  farewell  spirit,  and  as  he 
sano^  he  went  around  the  room  and  shook  hands  with 
every  one  in  it.  A  lady  said  to  me  after  his  death, 
"Oh!  how  his  face  shone,  that  blessed  Sabbath  morn- 
ing; it  did  seem  to  me  as  if  the  angels  hovered  over 
him.  I  do  think  the  Lord  was  preparing  him  for  this 
great  and  sudden  change.  AYe  were  so  glad  he  shook 
hands  with  us  all,  and  we  had  hoped  the  Lord  would 
spare  him  to  us,  he  was  doing  so  much  good." 

After  the  love  feast  closed,  Bro.  Leman  preached 
one  of  his  best  sermons.  It  was  food  to  the  soul, 
and  strength  to  the  heart  and  hands  to  go  forward  in 
Christian  duty.  Then  we  had  such  a  sweet,  solemn 
season  at  the  sacramental  altar.  There  were  forty  or 
fifty  communicants.  With  this  ordinance  the  meet- 
ing closed.  But  oh,  what  a  change  in  that  tow^i 
plot;  four  years  since  we  met  with  some  of  those 
people,  and  worshipped  in  a  small  log  house,  there  was 
but  two  or  three  houses  of  any  kind,  and  a  number  of 
emigrant  tents,  but  now  there  were  twenty-live  or 
thirty,  neat  small  buildings,  and  a  good  stone  church, 
and  everything  prosperous.  We  had  a  good  meeting 
then  in  the  log  house,  in  which  was  good  done  and 
souls  blessed,  and  Bro.  Mann  sent  on  his  way  rejoic- 
inti".  In  the  love  feast  Sabbath  mornino:  a  brother 
told  something  of  his  experience — he  was  a  backslider 
at  the  time  of  the  meeting  in  the  log  house  four  years 
previous.  lie  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Blue 
Spring;  came  to  this  country  on  purpose  to  get  a 
farm ;  and  the  new  town  was  laid  off  right  up  to  the 


FKoNTIKIi    I.IKK.  231 

line  (»f  liis  farm,  and  he  was  deeply  interested  in 
j»ul»lie  atfairs.  There  was  some  ditHeulty  ;^rew  np 
amun*^  them,  and  he  was  led  to  sjiy  and  du  Bunie 
things  that  injured  his  standing;  there  was  no  meeting 
to  go  to;  he  lost  his  interest  and  became  (piite  wieked. 
l>ut  at  tliat  meeting  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  re])ruved 
liim  for  sin.  unrighteousness  and  a  judgment  to 
eome,  and  he  never  f(»und  peace  until  he  found  it  the 
hlood  of  the  Lamb,  that  cleanseth  from  all  sin  tlirough 
repentance  and  faith  on  Ilim.  Now  he  was  rejoicing 
in  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  his  heart.  AVe 
were  much  cheered  when  the  Ehler  told  us  how  the 
Lord  was  blessinii:  the  work  all  around  his  district. 

We  had  a  good  social  prayer  meeting  at  Bro.  Ell- 
wood's;  he  was  preacher  in  charge  at  Blue  8i)rings 
then,  later  liecame  presiding  elder  of  Beatrice  district, 
and  lived  in  Beatrice.  We  closed  our  meetiiiir  bv 
expressing  a  hope  of  a  reunion,  at  least  in  our 
Fatlier's  House,  where  there  is  rest  for  the  wearv 
The  Doctor  had  come  up  so  nicely  from  that  severe 
>I)e]l  of  sickness,  that  we  hojied  lie  would  live  f«»r 
many  years  of  usefulness. 

AVe  returned  home  in  safety  and  found  all  well, 
and  the  young  doctor  rushed  with  business.  Our 
<|uarterly  meeting  was  to  come  off  soon  at  Crab  Orch- 
ard. That  charge  was  yet  to  be  supplied  by  the  con- 
ference, and  we  were  looking  for  a  new  elder  and  a 
new  ])reacher.  We  knew  but  very  little  about  our 
new  elder.  The  circuit  prejicher,  Bro.  Hull,  had  come 
on  a  few  days  j>revious  to  the  (juarterly  meeting;  had 
L,'ot  located  in  a  little  log  house  about  a  mile  from  the 
ochool  house,  in  readiness  for  the  quarterly  meeting. 


232  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

"We  had  built  a  good  school  house  at  Crab  Orchard 
the  year  previous.  Formerly  the  meetings  had  been 
held  in  Bro.  Howard's  log  house.  He  was  a  noble 
pioneer  Methodist  class  leader,  and  an  early  settler 
there,  and  kept  the  stage  house  for  years  for  the  line 
that  run  from  Bro^vnsville  to  Beatrice  when  we  went 
there.  Many  precious  seasons  have  the  Doctor  and  I 
seen  there  in  the  little  log  house  and  in  the  new 
school  house.  They  had  a  good  revival  all  winter  the 
first  winter  it  was  built.  Xow  we  were  going  to  have 
a  quarterly  meeting  there.  'We  were  all  anxious  to 
see  the  the  new  Elder  and  circuit  preacher. 

Bro.  Howard  knew  there  would  be  a  large  congre- 
gation out,  and  had  built  a  nice  leafy  bower  in  front 
of  the  school  house.  We  had  heard  a  good  many 
rumors  concerning  the  new  Elder;  some  said  he  was 
a  formal,  dry  eastern  man,  who  had  joined  our  late 
conference ;  knew  nothing  about  our  western  frontier 
habits,  manners  or  meetings,  and  our  hearts  were  sad  y 
but  oh,  how  soon  this  veil  of  sadness  dropped  when 
he  came  to  the  door  of  the  school  house.  His  form 
was  noble  and  majestic;  his  complexion  very  clear;  his- 
eyes  dark  blue ;  hair  dark  brown ;  his  apparel  very  neat, 
and  how  kind  and  gracefully  he  bowed  as  he  entered 
the  door,  and  with  Bro.  Hull  he  took  a  seat  behind 
the  teacher's  desk.  He  arose,  read  a  chapter,  sung  a 
hymn,  took  his  text  and  preached  a  splendid  sermon 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  of  the  Lord,  and  all 
were  very  much  pleased  with  the  new  elder,  Bro. 
Maxwell.  We  gave  him  a  hearty  welcome.  In  his 
sermon  he  referred  to  his  early  travels  over  that 
country  a  number  of  years  previous,  when  he  could 


FRONTIKi:    MFK.  288 

only  find  a  small  settlement  once  in  twelve,  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles,  only  two  (»r  tliree  log  cabins  or  dugouts 
and  a  few  inmates  composed  the  settlement.  He  wjig 
the  first  missionary  who  traveled  over  tliose  vast 
])rairie8  and  up  and  down  the  streams.  The  little 
settlements  were  all  very  near  the  streams  for  conveni- 
ence of  water  and  timber.  There  were  a  number  of 
those  early  settlers  there  that  day  from  a  distance  of 
fifteen  and  twenty  miles  to  see  their  boy  missionary 
and  hearliim  preach,  thankful  that  he  had  been  faith- 
ful to  the  great  commission,  and  grown  in  grace  and 
the  knowledi'e  of  God.  While  he  had  been  laborinj;  in 
otlier  parts  of  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,  this  country 
had  multiplied  into  many  large  settlements,  and  the 
little  vines  he  had  planted,  and  tliose  faithful  old  mem- 
bers of  the  small  classes  he  had  formed  had  multiplied 
by  faith  and  prayer,  while  otlier  faithful  ministers 
had  been  sent  by  our  infant  conference  to  labor  among 
them,  had  grown  to  be  large  vines  with  rich  fruits, 
and  that  day  he  could  stand  under  the  braiicht's  and 
proclaim  a  free  and  full  salvation. 

I  was  truly  thankful  that  I  was  permitted  to  enjoy 
this  reunion  with  those  faithful  frontier  soldiers  of 
the  cross.  Sabbath  morning  we  had  a  blessed  love 
feast,  and  at  half  dast  ten  the  school  house  and  the 
leafy  shade  were  closely  packed,  and  the  elder  stood 
under  the  shaded  lx>wer  and  preached  another  blessed 
sermon;  had  a  sacred,  solemn  time  at  sacrament;  the 
presence  of  the  L(jrd  overshadowed  us.  In  tlie  after- 
noon Bro.  Hull  preached  an  excellent  sermon,  and  at 
the  close  the  ehler  asked  the  doctor  to  close  by  j>myer; 
he  did  so,  and  oh  I  what  a  near  aj>pn»ach   hv  made  to 


23i  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

the  Lord,  it  seemed  as  though  the  very  heavens  were 
bending  over  lis;  some  were  shouting,  some  were 
wonderfully  drawn  out  in  prayer,  while  the  penitents 
were  weeping  all  through  the  congregation;  the  doc- 
tor still  pouring  out  his  soul  to  God  in  prayer, 
especially  for  the  people  of  this  neighborhood,  es- 
pecially the  impenitent  and  backsliders  of  this  neigh- 
borhood. I  think  I  never  heard  him  beseech  the 
Throne  of  Grace  with  so  much  earnestness  before. 
Ah,  little  did  we  think  at  that  time,  it  was  the  last 
prayer  he  would  ever  make  at  our  little  school  house, 
but  so  it  was.  It  was  growing  late,  and  some  were  a 
great  way  from  home,  so  the  elder  closed  by  singing 
the  doxology  and  saying  the  benediction.  The  place 
seemed  sacred  on  account  of  the  presence  of  the 
Lord.  Some  went  away  singing,  some  weeping,  some 
saying,  "Praise  the  Lord,  and  all  that  is  within  me 
praise  His  holy  name." 

There  was  a  dear  old  Sister  Blue  who  lived  on  the 
road  between  our  house  and  the  school  house,  in  a 
little  loo:  house.  She  was  a  widow,  verv  devoted, 
always  happy,  and  was  tenderly  regarded  and  loved  by 
all  the  class.  We  asked  her  to  ride  with  us,  and  she 
thankfully  accepted  our  invitation.  The  doctor 
assisted  her  into  the  wagon — we  all  rode  in  wagons 
then  in  that  new  country,  although  it  looked  like  an 
old  settled  country  to  the  elder  in  comparison  to  what 
it  was  when  he,  the  Pioneer  Missionary,  rode  through 
it  with  his  hymn  book  and  Bible  in  the  saddle-bags  to 
tell  the  story,  the  good  old  story  of  Jesus  and  His 
love, — and  we  had  a  pleasant  time  in  our  ride,  talking 
of  the   goodness   of    the   Lord,   and  His    supporting 


FRONTIKIC    I. UK.  235 

grace  in  tlio  l«jss  of  her  two  liusbands  aiul  several 
children.  And  when  we  arrived  at  lier  little  gate,  the 
doctor  helped  her  ont  «>f  the  wagon,  and  she  went 
slowly  up  the  narrow  )>ath  that  led  to  her  lonely  little 
house;  everything  was  neat  and  cozy  around  it,  but 
not  one  smile  to  greet  her  nor  one  foot  step  to  meet  her. 
As  we  went  on  our  way  toward  home,  I  said,  ''Oh,  dear, 
pa,  how  lonely  that  dear  old  soul  must  be  living  there 
all  alone,  shall  it  ever  be  that  I  shall  be  left  to  live  like 
her?  I  am  glad  the  Savior  is  with  her  to  bless  and 
comfort  her,  I  know  he  is,  she  is  always  so  happy." 
^'  Ma."  said  he,  "we  are  both  growing  old,  and  it  is 
certain,  iiccording  to  the  course  of  nature,  we  must  both 
go  pretty  soon."  "Oh,  pa,"  said  I,  "I  wish  we  could 
both  goat  the  same  time."  "So  would  I  like  that;  we 
have  traveled  and  labored  together  for  nearly  fifty  years, 
the  11th  of  next  November  it  will  be  lifty  years, 
almost  a  half  century.  But  it  is  most  likely  one 
will  be  taken  and  the  other  left.  I  am  almost  live 
years  the  older  and  it  is  likely  I  will  go  first,  but  you 
will  have  the  blessed  Savior  to  lean  on  who  has  been 
with  us  in  so  many  troubles,  and  sanctified  them  all 
to  our  orood.  lie  will  alwavs  be  with  vou  and  com- 
fort  you;  I  know  the  children  will  all  be  kind  and 
good  to  you."  "Oh,  yes,  but  they  can  never  fill  your 
place.  I  fear  you  have  some  idea  that  you  will  go 
fioon,  if  so,  pa,  you  ought  to  attend  to  your  business 
affairs;  there  is  all  your  property,  you  ought  to  make 
some  arrangements  about  that."  "  1  know,  but  I 
made  a  will  and  acknowledged  it  before  Sc^uire  Webb, 
and  Bro.  Pitney  witnessed  it.  Do  you  know  where  it 
is?     I  think  it  is  am«jng  your  paj»ers,   I  saw  it  nut  a 


236  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

great  while  ago."  "  But  that  wont  do,  it  was  ^Titten 
twenty  years  or  more  ago."  "It  was  written  when 
yon  went  to  California,"  said  he,  "  but  if  you  have  it 
it  is  all  right,  it  was  my  will  then,  and  it  is  now;  if 
I  should  write  a  dozen  wills  they  would  all  be  just 
like  that."  "  But,"  said  I  "that  is  destroyed  by  time.'^ 
"Oh,  no."  said  he,  "  it  would  be  good  for  fifty  years,  if 
no  other  was  made,  so  you  can  rest  easy  about  that  if 
I  should  go  suddenly." 

We  then  talked  about  where  we  would  like  to  be 
buried.  Both  expressed  a  wish  to  be  buried  at 
Lio^ht  House  cemeterv,  because  it  was  our  first  home 
in  Eastern  Illinois,  and  another  reason  was  we  gave 
the  ground  for  that  use,  and  another  was  that  there 
were  a  good  many  of  our  old  friends  lying  there  who 
came  soon  after  we  did,  and  we  would  like  to  arise  on 
the  morning  of  the  Resurrection  with  those  whom  we 
had  loved,  and  labored  with  to  sustain  the  cause  of 
our  blessed  Redeemer ;  and  there  were  a  number  of 
our  grand-children  buried  there,  but  none  of  our 
o^vn  dear  children.  Our  dear  little  Mathew  H.,. 
lay  in  the  family  cemetery  at  Eddyville,  Ky.  We 
then  talked  of  the  manner  of  burying  people  in 
their  usual  habit  of  dress.  I  said,  "  Pa,  would  you 
like  to  be  dressed  in  your  wearing  apparel?"  "Xo,"^ 
said  he,  "  I  think  white  is  much  more  appropriate  for 
for  the  burying  apparel."  "So  do  I,"  was  my  reply. 
"There  is  no  harm  talking  about  these  matters, 
although  we  may  live  many  years  yet,"  said  I,  "  then 
we  know  each  other's  mind  on  the  subject  if  anything 
should  happen."  "  Oh,  no,"  said  he,  "  don't  feel 
gloomy   about   it,    I   have   no    terror  of  death  since 


FRONTIER    LIKK.  237 

Jesus  has  lain  there.  1  dread  n«»t  its  «j;luoin.  1  have 
lived  my  threescore  years  and  ten  and  you  are  pretty 
<jk)se  after  nie,  hut  if  the  Lord  will,  we  can  stay  ten 
years  more.  His  ^race  will  sustain  us,  hut  I  have  one 
«^i*eut  desire,  that  the  good  Lord,  whom  we  have  served 
together  almost  fifty  years,  will  take  us  home  to  rest 
l»efore  we  become  helpless.  That  is  my  greatest 
desire." 

We  had  often  talked  on  the  subject  but  never  with 
so  much  feelini?.  Just  then  we  arrived  at  our  home. 
It  was  this  idea  that  suggested  to  me  that  one  or  the 
other  would  go  soon,  and  also  told  me  that  I  had  better 
write  to  the  childi-en  about  coming  to  see  us  on  our 
jiiarriage  anniversary,  the  11th  of  Xovember,  and 
tell  them  we  did  not  want  any  Golden  AVedding,  it  was 
themselves  we  wanted  to  see,  and  they  must  be  sure 
to  come.  Xow  there  were  seven  letters  to  write,  and 
I  went  at  it,  and  all  read  to  the  same  purport.  In 
the  morning  the  doctor  went  to  tearing  down  our 
little  emigrant  shanty,  and  intended  to  use  the  lum- 
ber in  adding  on  some  more  rooms.  He  and  Morris 
P.  Iwoe  had  just  finished  the  summer  kitchen  and 
moved  the  stove  in.  ''Now,  Ma,"  said  the  Doctor, 
cheerfully,  "you  can  get  the  dinner  and  not  suffer  so 
with  the  heat."  I  thanked  him  kindly  and  went  to 
work. 

Just  as  my  dinner  w^as  about  ready  a  team  drove  up 
to  the  door,  and  it  proved  to  be  some  of  Morris  P.^s 
friends  from  Downer's  Grove,  Du  Page  county,  111. 
They  were  hunting  land  to  buy  in  Xeljraska,  and 
had  called  to  see  Morris.  We  were  very  much 
pleased  to  see  them,  and  made  them  welcome.     After 


238  KECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

dinner  the  Doctor  told  Morris  to  harness  the  double 
team  for  him  and  he  would  hitch  onto  the  sulky  plow 
and  plow  out  the  grove,  and  he  could  take  the  riding  horse 
and  0:0  with  his  friends  and  see  if  he  could  not  find  a 
farm  that  would  suit  them,  as  he  knew  of  several  that 
were  for  sale.  "  I  would  like  it,"  said  the  Doctor,  "if 
they  would  buy  near  us,  and  then  more  of  their 
friends  would  come,  and  they  would  be  quite  an 
addition  to  our  neighborhood.''  •*  Yes,*'  said  Morris, 
'*and  they  are  the  right  kind  of  folks."  The  young 
men  were  off  pretty  quick,  and  the  Doctor  hitched 
onto  the  riding  sulky  plow,  and  soon  he  had  his  little 
grove  plowed  out  nicely  and  called  me  to  see  it.  ''Xow, 
Ma,  don't  that  look  so  nice?  it  has  only  been  out  a 
little  more  than  two  years,  and  I  cannot  plow  it  any 
more  Avith  my  riding  plow.''  *•  Then  you  will  have  to 
plow  it  with  a  crossing  j)low,-''  said  I.  "It  does 
look  nice,  dont  it?  you  can  see  the  frirrows  clear 
throucrh  the  o-rove."  "Xow,  Ma,"  said  he,  "it  is 
pretty  nice  to  raise  anything  so  beautiful  in  so  short 
a  time.  One  thing  that  makes  it  look  so  nice  is,  I 
trimmed  it  uj)  the  other  day.  and  it  is  so  perfectly 
clean."  "Yes,  Pa,''  said  I,  "there  is  not  so  nice  a 
grove  in  the  county  for  its  age.''  ''  You  are  joking, 
Ma,"  said  he.  And  oh  I  what  a  pleasant  smile  played 
over  his  features  as  he  said,  "Oh,  Ma,  it  would  not 
have  been  so  nice  if  you  had  not  helped  me  set  it  out 
so  carefully."     Then  we  both  had  a  cheerful  laugh. 

Ohl  little  did  we  realize  that  we  were  raising  a 
grove  that  was  to  wave  its  beautiful  dark  green  leaves 
over  his  grave ;  but  it  was  so.  Soon  after  this  pleasant 
interview  and   chat  about  the   o^rove  he   said,    "Ma^ 


FKnNTIKK    LIKK.  230 

wliere  will  I  find  the  lufilfr;  1  tnld  the  hoys  I  \v«nild 
like  to  liave  them  kill  a  iiiee  sh<»:it  this  evening;  they 
said  they  would  he  at  hoiiu*  hy  half  past  ii\'e,  ur  six 
o'clock  at  least;  that  will  he  time  enoui^h."  He  made 
the  tire,  tilled  the  hoiler.  and  I  helped  him  put  it  on. 
The  hoys  were  there  on  time,  l)utchered  the  hog, 
and  the  Doctor  told  them  t(»  hang  it  up  and  let  it 
cool,  and  he  would  cut  it  up  in  the  morning.  AV^e 
had  tea,  then  prayers  and  retired  for  the  night. 

In  the  morning  the  Doctor  cut  uj)  the  meat  nicely, 
salted  it,  and  brought  uj)  some  nice  spareribs  from  the 
cellar,  saying,  ''Ma,  that  will  be  nice  for  breakfast.'* 
Soon  all  was  readv  and  we  were  seated.  After  askin^r 
a  blessing  he  helped  us  all,  as  was  his  usual  custom, 
and  then  sipped  his  coffee,  and  remarked,  '*  Ma,  this 
coffee  is  splendid;  if  you  should  live  until  you  were 
an  hundred  years  old  you  would  not  forget  how  to 
make  good  coffee,  and  fry  nice  spareribs.''  "Quite  a 
compliment.  Pa,"  I  replied.  "Well,  it  is  so;  it  seems 
to  me  as  though  I  never  relished  a  meal  better  in  all 
my  life.,'  ''I  am  very  glad  if  it  suits  you.  Pa,"  was 
my  reply. 

After  breakfast  the  Doctor  said  to  Morris,  "  You 
had  better  go  with  the  young  men  and  see  those  other 
farms  this  moring,  and  I  will  take  the  team  and  plow 
out  my  melon  i)atch.''  He  said,  "Grandpa,  you  had 
better  let  me  do  that ;  you  are  tired  with  cutting  up 
your  meat,  and  had  Ijetter  not  go  out,  for  it  is  going 
to  be  very  warm  to-day;  I  fear  it  will  be  too  much  for 
vou."  "Oh,  I  (ruiiiis  not;  vou  harness  the  team  and  I 
can  do  it.  Grandma  thought  what  I  did  yesterday 
would   hurt  me,  but  I  think  it  did  me  good."       "Hut 


240  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

grandpa,"  said  Morris,  "it  has  been  very  cool  for  a 
number  of  days,  and  now  this  morning  it  has  turned 
very  warm,  and  this  is  one  of  the  longest  days  in  the 
year.  I  think  yon  had  better  let  it  be ;  I  will  do  it 
carefully."  "  I  guess  it  will  not  hurt  me;  you  harness 
the  horses,  I  will  be  careful."  Re  did  as  requested, 
and  the  young  men  went  to  see  the  farms,  and  were 
to  be  back  by  ten  o'clock. 

The  Doctor  went  out  to  hitch  the  horses  to  the  plow 
which  stood  near  the  back  door.  (The  young  doctor  had 
been  called  away  some  ten  miles  in  the  night,  and  we 
did  not  know  when  to  look  for  him  when  he  went 
over  there,  for  he  had  very  often  to  go  all  around  the 
neighborhood;  so  when  the  young  men  went  away 
there  was  no  man  on  the  place  but  Doctor.  We  felt  a 
good  deal  of  uneasiness  about  the  young  doctor  going 
out  in  the  night,  as  the  country  was  full  of  horse 
thieves,  and  one  had  escaped  from  the  sheriff  a  few 
nights  previous  with  handcuffs  on,  only  a  few  miles 
from  our  place,  and  we  thought  there  was  danger 
from  both  parties.  There  were  thirty  or  forty  men  and 
officers  out  after  the  thief.  It  was  supposed  he  had 
gone  to  some  of  his  own  crew  not  far  away,  and  we 
feared  he  might  be  shot  at  by  either  party  in  the 
night;  he  was  to  cross  Yankee  Creek  near  where 
they  caught  the  one  who  had  escaped  a  few  nights 
before,  and  we  were  feeling  very  anxious  about  him.) 
"Wlien  Doctor  went  out  at  the  back  door  the  young 
doctor's  wife  and  I  begged  and  entreated  him  not  to 
go  out  in  the  hot  sun,  but  he  smiled  and  said,  "  Don't 
be  so  foolish,  it  will  not  hurt  me."  "Oh,  Pa,"  said  I, 
"it  is  so  warm  and  you  have  your  liannels  on,  and  I 


FRONTIKIi    MKK.  '241 

see  tlie  clouds  liave  passed  away  and  tlie  sun  lias 
come  out  so  verv  liot."  "( )li,"  Baid  he,  "do  not  \)e 
uneasy,  I  will  come  in  if  it  is  very  hut."  And  as 
lie  passed  around  the  corner  of  the  house,  1  said  to 
Sarah,  "  I  hope  he  will  not  stay  out  long."  "  I  don't 
think  he  will,"  said  she.  "  I  don't  think  I  ever  saw  it 
so  hut."  She  came  and  got  the  pail  and  drew  a  pail  of 
water.  Just  then  I  went  to  the  door  to  see  how  the 
Doctor  was  getting  along,  and  as  I  looked  out  I  saw 
liim  turn  around  the  corner  with  his  team.  I  remarked, 
''Pa,  I  am  so  glad  you  have  cume  in;  I  thought  you 
did  nut  realize  how  very  warm  it  is."  AVhile  he  was 
hitching  his  team  he  remarked,  "Just  as  I  fixed  my 
eyes  on  the  beam  uf  the  pluw  I  grew  dizzy  and  blind, 
and  fell  down  by  the  side  of  the  plow,  and  I  du  not 
know  lung  I  laid  there."  Said  I,  "  Pa,  ycui  have  not 
been  out  but  a  few  minutes."  Sarah  luuked  at  the 
clock  and  said,  "Xot  more  than  twenty  or  thirty 
minutes."  I  said,  "  Do  come  in  and  let  the  horses 
stand  until  the  buys  come."  "  I  will,"  said  he,  and 
stepped  around  tu  the  north  door  and  entered  the 
sitting  room.  I  said,  "Du  take  the  rucking  chair," 
placing  it  between  twu  winduws  and  the  duur.  Just 
then  Sarah  brought  him  a  draught  of  cold  water  she 
had  drawn.  He  drank  it,  remarking,  ''That  is 
deliciuus."  I  said,  "Pa,  yuu  had  better  take  some- 
thing." "  I  will  take  something  out  uf  that  bottle 
that  stands  un  the  table,"  said  he.  "  I  tuuk  a  sup  iis  I 
came  in,  and  it  has  started  the  circulatiun  and  j)ergpi- 
ration;  see  how  nicely  moist  I  am;  will  get  over  it 
Soon;  my  head  feels  iill  right  now,"  shaking  his  head. 
I  remarked,  "  Pa,  I  am   afraid    it    is   something  more 


242  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

serious  than  you  are  willing  to  admit  of."  ''Oh,  I 
guess  not."  "Shall  I  get  you  a  bowl  of  water  and 
wash  you  off  nicely  and  get  some  lighter  clothes  on?"' 
"You  may,"  said  he;  "I  do  not  think  it  will  stop  the 
perspiration,  if  I  take  a  little  more  of  those  bitters  to 
keep  up  the  action."  I  unbuttoned  his  collar  and 
bathed  his  breast  and  shoulders,  and  combed  his  hair^ 
after  which  he  said,  "I  feel  all  right  now."  "You 
will  when  you  get  those  woolen  clothes  off ;  shall  I 
get  some  clean,  dry  ones?"  "Pretty  soon;  I  guess  I 
will  lie  down  on  the  lounge  and  rest  a  little  first." 
"We  had  a  lounge  in  the  room  where  he  rested  often. 
He  had  but  just  lain  down  when  two  of  our  neighbors 
came  in,  one  to  get  the  Doctor  to  go  and  see  a  sick 
child,  one  whom  the  Doctor  had  been  to  see  a  day  or 
two  before,  when  the  young  doctor  was  out  on  one  of 
his  long  trips.  The  Doctor  welcomed  them  and 
chatted  with  them  cheerfully  for  half  an  hour.  After 
the  gentleman  had  described  the  symptoms  the 
Doctor  concluded  to  send  some  medicine,  and  the 
young  doctor  would  go  when  he  returned  home.  He 
said  to  our  daughter-in-law,  "Sarah,  if  you  aWII 
hand  me  thus  and  thus  out  of  the  medicine 
safe,  I  will  fix  some  medicine  for  Mr.  Arm- 
strong." Sarah  did  with  pleasure  what  he  requested. 
He  arose,  sat  on  the  lounge  and  prepared  the  medicine 
— I  think  we  may  say  he  died  at  his  post,  and  I  think 
he  was  truly  called  of  God  to  that  post — and  the 
gentlemen  bid  us  good-morning  and  started  home. 

They  had  but  just  started  when  the  young  men 
arrived.  They  were  going  thirty  or  forty  miles  further 
to  see  a  sister,  and  I  had  prepared  them  some  lunch  to 


FRONTIER   LIFE.  348 

eat  on  the  way.  They  had  found  a  farm  that  suited 
pretty  well,  and  if  they  did  not  lind  something  l>etter 
on  their  trip,  they  would  come  hack  and  hny.  They 
were  in  a  hurry,  putting  their  things  into  the  wagun, 
hidding  good-bye,  etc.  AVlien  they  came  into  the 
room  to  hid  the  Doctor  good-hye,  he  raised  up  and  sat 
«jn  the  lounge  again,  and  with  a  smile  said  tu  the 
young  men,  "  Now,  boys,  I  am  so  glad  there  is  some 
hojje  that  you  will  come  back  here,  and  I  hope  yon 
will,  and  then  the  old  folks  will  come.  Now,  if  you 
do  come  back,  I  want  you  to  remember  that  the  latch 
>tring  is  always  on  the  outside.'"  (This  is  an  old- 
fashioneil  })hrase,  to  express  hospitality,  that  the 
frontiersmen  frequently  used,  and  he  meant  all  it 
could  express.)  ''Come  right  here  and  stay  until  you 
can  lix  up  your  home,  and  such  as  we  have  we  will 
give  unto  thee;  I  want  you  tu  feel  as  though  you  were 
coming  to  your  father's  house."  They  thanked  him 
very  kindly,  and  went  out  to  harness  and  hitch  uj> 
their  horses. 

The  Doctor  said  to  me  as  he  laid  down,  "Ma,  if 
you  will  get  an  early  dinner,  I  think  Morris  had 
better  take  the  team  and  take  us  down  to  Bro. 
Howard's,"  (he  was  Squire  just  over  the  line  in  John- 
son county,  where  the  land  the  Doctor  had  been  sell- 
ing lay)  ''and  take  Lovell  along,  and  all  acknowledge 
those  papers;  it  has  been  put  off  too  long  now." 
••You  don't  think  you  are  able  to  go,  do  you^"  said  I. 
••Oh,  yes;  I  feel  all  right,  only  I  am  a  little  tii*ed." 
"Well,"  said  I,  "I  want  you  to  put  on  some 
cooler  clothes."  "  I  will,"  said  he.  I  remarked,  "  I 
wish  those  lx)y8  would  stay  to  dinner;  I  have  done 


244  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

my  best  to  persuade  them,  but  tliey  will  not  stay; 
they  are  hitching  on  their  horses  now."  I  spoke  to 
the  young  doctor's  wife,  and  told  her  what  he  had 
said,  and  asked  her  to  sit  by  him  while  I  went  and  got 
dinner.  '^  I  w411.  Ma,"  said  she,  "  I  will  run  up  stairs 
and  get  my  sewing  and  stay  with  him ;  I  don't  think 
he  ought  to  be  left  alone."  She  ran  up  stairs,  saying, 
"  I  will  be  back  in  a  moment  or  two."  I  turned  into 
the  kitchen  to  attend  to  my  dinner. 

Just  at  that  moment  Morris  had  bid  the  boys  good- 
bye, and  stepped  onto  the  door  sill.  I  heard  some- 
thing fall,  and  Morris  cried  out,  "Grandma!  come! 
come!  Grandpa  has  fallen  on  the  floor  and  is  dying, 
I  do  believe."  Sarah  and  I  both  ran,  and  just  as  we  got 
our  hands  on  him  he  drew  one  gurgling  breath  and 
two  short  gasps,  but  the  air  did  not  go  into  the  lungs. 
Morris  screamed  for  the  boys — they  had  not  gone 
more  than  five  rods  from  the  door.  They  came  back, 
hitched  their  horses,  and  were  ready  to  do  anything 
they  could  to  assist  us;  took  a  horse  and  rode  across 
the  field  to  our  neighbor's  who,  we  knew,  would  go 
after  the  doctor.  The  other  young  man  stayed  and 
helped  us  rub  him  and  put  draughts  on  every  artery. 
"We  tried  to  get  him  to  swallow,  but  never  got  him  to 
take  one  drop.  I  clasped  his  hands  when  I  first  got 
to  him  and  asked  again  and  again,  "  My  dear  husband, 
are  you  conscious  ?  if  so,  if  you  can't  speak,  do  press 
my  hand!"  But  no  motion,  not  the  least,  nor  the 
slightest  pulsation.     After  we  got  to  him  all  was  over. 

Pen  cannot  describe  the  anguish  of  that  hour ;  every 
heart  was  ready  to  burst  with  grief.  Just  at  the 
moment  we  gave  him  up,  a  gentleman  rode  up  to  the 


KKHNTIKK    I.U-K.  245 

door,  wlio  stn|nn'(l  ill  'l\'fmnsili,  tlu'  couiitv  seat  uf 
Johnson  county,  u  distant  relative  by  marriage,  l>y 
name,  Calvin  Mayberry.  lie  was  very  inncli  sur- 
prised and  grieved  at  the  scene  which  was  before  liini; 
we  liad  just  got  the  Doctor  straightened  out  on  a  bed- 
stead and  a  sheet  thrown  over  him.  Calvin  had  lK*en 
at  our  house  a  few  days  before,  and  had  found  him 
l(X)king  so  well  and  feeling  so  cheerful  over  our 
I>n>]K)se<l  re-union  in  November,  that  it  was  a  very 
great  shock  to  him  as  well  as  to  us.  The  messenger 
who  went  for  tlie  young  doctor  liad  told  the  sad  news 
at  the  stage  house  on  the  road,  Bro.  Howard  tlien 
sent  word  to  the  post  office,  and  its  occupants  to  Bro. 
Hull,  the  new  preacher,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  the 
hous^  was  full  of  warm,  sympathizing  hearts  and 
]iel]»ing  hands  ready  to  assist  in  any  way  they  cpuld. 
p]ven  dear  old  Sister  Blue•^vas  there,  and  oh  I  how 
Comforting  lier  kind  words  were,  and  how  kindly  she 
said,  ''Sister  Koe,  don't  grieve  so,  Bro.  Hoe  has  only 
ifot  into  port  a  little  early,  a  few  more  struggles  and  the 
Master  will  say,  '  It  is  enough,  come  up  higher,  enter 
into  rest.'  ]>ro.  Roe  has  fought  the  good  fight,  kept  the 
faith  and  entered  into  rest,  and  if  we  are  faithful  we 
will  l>e  permitted  to  enter  with  him  into  the  joy  of 
our  Lord."  And  the  consoling  W(U*ds  of  all  those,  or 
many  of  them,  with  whom  he  was  so  very  haj^py  a 
few  days  ago  at  cpiarterly  meeting,  were  like  cordial 
to  our  wounded  hearts. 

Mr.  ^layberry  told  the  news  all  along  the  r«»ad  and  at 
;it  Tecumseh ;  there  were  a  number  of  our  friends  living 
there.  About  one  oVlo(;k  friend  Ellis  arrive<l  with  the 
vouuir  doctor  all  safe.      He  had  rode  about  thirtv  miles 


246  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

in  pursuit,  and  returned  in  two  hours  and  a  half. 
"With  all  our  grief  there  was  a  current  of  thanksgiv- 
ing and  deep-felt  gratitude  to  our  Heavenly  Father 
that  his  life  had  been  spared,  running  through  our 
minds.  He  regretted  he  had  not  been  there,  and  so 
did  we,  but  he  thought  it  hardly  possible  that  any- 
thing could  have  prevented  the  sad  stroke.  Some 
thought  it  might  have  been  caused  by  sun  stroke,  but 
I  think  it  was  caused  by  that  old  congestion  which 
had  lingered  in  his  system  for  many  years,  and  in 
that  severe  spell  he  had  in  the  spring,  it  then  fastened 
onto  the  spine,  and  now  it  was  carried  to  the  brain, 
and  finally  terminated  in  apoplexy.  The  first  symp- 
toms were  on  the  day  he  was  helping  Mr.  Maine  lay 
out  the  hedge  row;  the  second,  that  morning  about 
half  past  nine  o'clock  in  the  garden;  and  the  last, 
a  few  minutes  before  eleven  o'clock,  June  21st,  1871. 

The  young  doctor  got  young  Mr.  Xewhall,  or  he 
very  kindly  offered,  to  go  to  Blue  Springs  for  Brother 
and  Sister  Ellwood.  I  wanted  Bro.  Ellwood  to  preach 
the  funeral  sermon,  for  Doctor  and  he  had  labored  to- 
gether through  two  revivals  in  Illinois,  and  ever  since 
we  came  together  in  this  new  country  we  had  been  very 
intimate  friends.  Our  very  kind  fi-iend  Mr.  Ellis, 
went  to  Beatrice,  fifteen  miles,  for  a  cofiin,  and  what 
else  was  necessary  in  that  line.  There  were  ten  or 
twelve  of  our  friends  who  stayed  with  us  all  night. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCann  came  to  our  assistance  about 
the  first  of  any,  and  I  assure  you  they  were 
very  kind  and  helpful.  Mr.  McCann  superintended 
the  digging  of  the  grave.  We  made  up  our  ininds  to 
have  it  in  the  little  a'rove  that  Doctor  thouo-ht  so  much 


FK«>NriKK    I.IKK.  247 

<>f,  and  there,  ri«^lit  acmss  tlie  furrow-  that  he  had 
plowed  4vS  hours  a«^(>,  we  hiid  him  to  rrst  until  we 
Could  hriui^  liini  to  Illincus.  JJrother  and  Sister  Hull 
stayed  all  night  witli  us,  and  I  gave  Hro.  Hull  the 
text  I  wished  to  have  the  funeral  sermon  preached 
from :'' Blessed  are  the  deiul  who  die  in  the  Lord 
from  henceforth,  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow 
them." — Revelations,  IX  Chap.,  13th  Verse.  And  I 
told  him  it  might  be  possible  tliat  Bro.  Ellwoc>d 
might  not  come,  and  he  would  have  to  preach.  He 
said  he  would  do  it.  I  chose  that  Bro.  Ellwood  should 
preach  because  he  and  the  doctor  were  so  intimate. 

The  day  was  extremely  warm,  and  a  good  many  of 
the  friends  had  been  there  from  lU  o'clock  because  the 
Avord  in  regard  to  the  lK)ur  of  the  services  had  not 
been  given  out  very  detinitely,  but  it  was  intended  to 
hold  the  funeral  at  3  o'clock.  Some  had  a  great  w^ays 
to  go  and  were  getting  restless,  and,  as  Bro.  EHwikkI 
did  not  come,  it  was  thought  best  to  have  Bro.  Hull 
preach,  and  he  preached  a  good  sermon.  Bro.  Ell- 
"wood  arrived  when  he  was  about  half  through,  and 
made  some  very  ajjpropriate  remarks.  You  would 
have  been  astonished  to  see  the  congregation  that  was 
there;  both  the  large  rooms  were  tilled  to  the  last 
foot,  and  there  were  more  outside  than  inside.  Oh  I 
what  attention  and  what  sym}>athy  could  Ik?  reml  in 
every  face;  it  was  evident  that  one  had  gone  who  was 
revered,  honored  and  loved,  llful  we  few  who  were 
permitted  to  follow  him  to  the  very  nice  grave  that 
was  shaded  by  those  beautiful  leafy  l>oughs,  U'en  at 
liome  with  our  kind  frien<ls  and  relatives   in    Illinois, 


248  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

we  could  not  have  received  more  kindness  and  sym- 
pathy. My  heart  glows  with  gratitude  while  I  A^Tite, 
to  Him  who  doetli  all  things  well,  and  to  my  kind 
friends  also,  of  whom  I  like  to  think  and  talk,  for  the 
kind  sympathy  and  attention  given  me. 

A  few  more  storms,  a  few  more  beating  waves,  and 
we  will  meet  in  our  Father's  house  to  go  out  no  more. 
There  the  inmates  never  say,  "I  am  sick."  Xo  death 
there,  we  shall  live  on  and  on  through  endless  ages  to 
praise  him  for  full  redemption.  The  service  closed. 
Our  kind  friends  left  us  with  kindest  feeling,  all  but 
Brother  and  Sister  EUwood,  They  remained  with  us 
until  two  o'clock  next  day.  This  was  a  great  comfort 
to  us,  and  when  they  left  we  were  lonely  and  sad. 

Of  all  the  sorrows  that  I  ever  passed  through  I 
must  say  this  was  the  deepest.  I  have  lost  father, 
mother,  sisters  and  brothers,  and  sweet  little  angel 
babe,  and  thought  my  grief  as  deep  as  any  heart  could 
suffer,  but  it  was  not  like  this.  Xo,  no;  the  great 
deep  of  my  heart  was  all  broken  up,  and  part  of  my 
grief  was  that  I  could  not  say  "  Thy  Avill  be  done," 
for  many  years.  I  had  been  able  to  say  ''  Thy  will  be 
done,"  under  losses,  disappointments  and  afflictions, 
and  thought,  that  having  meditated,  consulted  and 
prayed  on  this  subject  so  much,  I  would  be  able  to 
submit  with  Christian  resignation  if  he  should  be 
taken  and  I  left.  But  I  was  mistaken.  I  could  nut 
bear  the  idea  that  we  should  never  unite  our  prayers  at 
tlie  faniilv  altar  a^^ain;  never  acrain  o^o  totjether  to  the 
])ublic  worship,  or  social  i^rayer  or  class  meeting; 
never  see  him  at  my  sick  bed,  ready  to  administer 
couifort  and  relief;  never  enjoy  a  cheerful  meal  with 


FRONTIER    LIFE.  249 

liiiii  as  I  enjoyed  that  morning — oh  I  little  did  I  think 
that  it  was  the  last.  Xo;  never  have  liis  strong 
arm  to  lean  on  in  the  day  of  tronhle.  I  strnggled 
fervently  in  prayer  to  my  Heavenly  Father  for  grace 
to  say  '*  Thy  will  he  done."  I  knew  if  I  cunld  he 
able  to  say  that  with  all  my  heart  I  could  hear  it  so 
differently.  I  still  struggled,  with  that  faith  that 
takes  no  denial,  and  the  victory  was  miiie.  All  was 
peace  and  resignation.  How  calmly  I  could  say, 
*' Thy  will  be  done.  I  will  trust  Thee,  though  Thou 
slay  me.''  And  with  what  sweet  |)eace  and  comf(»rt  I 
consecrated  my  soul  and  body  anew  to  II im  who 
doeth  all  things  well;  and  from  that  hour  I  have  kept 
the  victory  amid  all  the  tri.ils  I  have  ])assed,  and  they 
have  not  been  few.  I  have  never  felt  as  though  I 
would  call  him  back  if  I  could.  N«>,  never;  nor  any 
other  of  my  Christian  friends.  But  often  it  seems  as 
though  I  could  say  with  the  poet: 

See  the  happy  spirits  waiting,', 
On  the  banks  beyond  the  stream; 

Sweet  responses  still  repeatinj^', 
Jesus,  Jesus,  is  the  theme. 

Hark,  they  whisper;  lo,  they  call  me, 

*'  Sister  spirit,  come  away." 
Lo,  I  come,  earth  cjui't  d*-tain  me, 

Hail  the  realms  of  clay. 

I  often  think  of  how  I  felt  as  1  stood  at  the  open 
grave.  "Go,  dearest  Pa,'' I  said  in  my  heart, '*  and 
rest  from  your  lab<jrs.  You  can't  come  to  us,  biit  by 
Divine  (^race  we  axn  come  to  you,  and  we  will."  Oh! 
what  a  blessing  that  th<»ught,  that  a  Throne  of  (Trace 
is  made  accessible  and  Heaven  possible,  through  faith 


250  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

in  the  all-atoning  blood  of  the  Lamb  that  has  redeemed 
a  sin-stricken  world. 

A  few  weeks  elapsed  and  duty  prompted  me  to  have 
the  will  probated.  All  was  left  to  me,  to  do  with  it 
as  I  thought  best.  And  oh  I  the  great  responsibility. 
My  heart  cried,  '*  Dear  Lord,  I  am  not  sufficient  for 
this  great  responsibility.  Xothing  but  Thy  grace  can 
sustain  me;  but  I  have  said  '  Thy  will  be  done,-  with 
all  my  heart,  and  with  Thy  grace  to  sustain  me,  I  will 
try  and  do  the  best  I  can."  There  were  heavy  crops 
to  be  gathered  and  sold  to  meet  liabilities;  the  farm 
to  l)e  rented ;  the  deed  and  mortgage  before  spoken  of 
to  be  seen  to,  and  a  multitude  of  cares.  Amid  my 
sorrow  and  loneliness  it  seemed  a  great  deal.  Oh  I 
what  would  I  have  done  if  I  had  not  a  precious 
Saviour  to  lean  on?  And  oh  I  how  near  He  was  to 
me  to  comfort  and  sustain. 

Dear  Pa's  remains  were  laid  so  near  the  house  that 
I  could  sit  at  my  bed  room  window  and  look  on  the 
spot.  I  spent  much  of  my  time  there  in  prayer  and 
meditation.  Oh  I  what  a  comfort  to  feel  my  Saviour 
so  near,  and  the  more  resigned  I  felt  the  happier  I 
was  in  the  anticipation  of  a  blessed  reunion  with  my 
dear  husband  and  many  other  loved  ones  who  had 
gone  before.  And  oh  I  how  often,  while  walking  in  that 
lovely  little  grove  and  standing  by  the  board  fence 
that  enclosed  the  grave,  I  felt  that  nothing  but  God's 
grace  could  sustain  me  in  this  great  loss  and  sorrow. 
And  there  I  would  wi-estle,  Jacob  like,  until  I  could 
say  with  my  whole  heart,  '•  Thy  will  be  done."  Then 
tliere  would  be  such  a  sweet,  sacred  peace  shed  over  my 
whole  beincr,  and  I  could  almost  realize  the  reunion  1 


KUoNTIKi:    LIFK.  'J.')  1 

ex})ecteil,  ;uk1  tlie  j^reciniis  prmnisefi  were  applied  to 
my  lieart,  such  as  these:  "  AVhi-re  I  uin  ye  sliull  he 
'also;"  "These  are  they  who  have  come  up  out  «»f 
great  trihulatiou,  aud  washed  their  rohes  and  made 
them  white  in  the  hlood  of  the  Lamh."' 

The  youucr  Doctor  rented  the  farm  f<»r  the  next 
year,  and  it  was  arranired  for  me  to  stay  there.  There 
were  ])lenty  of  room  for  them  and  me  when  I  luul  tlie 
TWO  bedrooms  furnished,  and  the  grandson,  Morris  P. 
Roe,  spoken  of  l)efore,  agreed  to  stay  with  ine  until 
the  crops  were  gathered.  Oar  hired  man  came  back, 
lie  had  secured  a  good  claim  or  homestead.  My 
liusband  had  sup])lied  him  with  money  to  defray  all 
expenses,  and  he  began  to  think  of  sending  for  liis 
wife.  When  he  came  he  w{is  willing  Uj  work  out  the 
balance  of  his  term  to  pay  for  what  money  he  had 
and  get  more  to  send  tor  liis  wife,  and  the  luirvest 
Work  went  off  nicely.  We  had  a  line  lot  of  corn, 
forty  or  tifty  acres,  and  as  good  corn  as  I  ever  saw 
grow  in  any  country.  Morris  P.  stayed  until  the 
small  <ri*aiii  was  all  harvested  and  marketed,  and  when 
the  corn  was  ripe  for  husking,  my  kind  neighbors 
came  and  husked  out  about  fnur  liundred  bushels  and 
cribbed  it,  and  I  hired  ^^r.  Maine  to  husk  the  rest  in 
the  field. 

Our  friends  in  lllincjis  desired  to  have  a  reunion  at 
the  home  of  our  oldest  daughter,  ^Lrs.  May  berry,  and 
liave  us  all  meet  together  to  condole  the  loss  of  onr 
dearly  beloved  father  and  husband,  as  we  could  not 
be  together  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Our  oldest  son, 
Dr.  U.  C.  Koe,  had  moved  bjuk  to  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Franklin  (irove.    Lee   Co.,   and   lives   there 


i^52  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

yet;  my  second  son,  Dr.  F.  M.  Roe,  resided  then  and 
does  now,  at  Downer's  Grove;  the  third  son,  G.  B. 
Roe,  is  a  farmer  and  lives  at  Paynes  Point,  and  has 
for  a  long  time — more  than  29  years ;  the  fourth  son, 
Mathew  C.  Roe,  lived  then  in  Lynn  Co.,  Iowa; 
the  oldest  daughter  married  J.  C.  May  berry;  and 
the  fifth  son,  John  H.  Roe,  lived  in  Louisville,  Ky;  my 
youngest  daughter,  Francis  M.  Conlen,  lived  then  and 
does  now  in  DeKalb  Co.,  111. ;  the  sixth  son,  Dr.. 
Malcom  C.  Roe,  lived  in  Xebraska,  Gage  Co.,  with 
me.  Now  the  object  was  to  get  them  all  together 
once  more  that  we  might  sympathize  with  and  com- 
fort each  other  over  our  great  loss,  and  each  one  felt 
it  very  deeply. 

The  5th  of  February,  1873,  found  us  all  there,  and 
Mr.  Mayberry  gave  us  splendid  entertainment.  It 
was  a  gracious  season;  we  sang  and  prayed,  and  there 
was  deep  feeling  while  we  talked  of  Doctor's  kindness,, 
counsel,  prayers  and  death;  there  seemed  to  be  but 
one  spirit,  and  that  was  sympathy  for  each  other, 
reunion  and  love;  it  seemed  as  though  the  Doctor's 
spirit  mingled  with  us  though  unseen.  We  spent 
several  days  together,  and  talked  of  bringing  hi* 
remains  to  Light  House  right  awa}^,  but  I  thought  it 
might  be  possible  the  children  would  mo^e  to 
Nebraska,  and  then  we  would  want  him  there;  and  I 
could  not  think  of  living  there  without  his  grave 
being  near  me;  so  it  was  postponed.  We  enjoyed  our 
visit  together  very  much,  and  while  we  were  together 
it  was  thought  best  that  I  should  choose  a  trustee; 
as  the  law  allowed  me  to  do. 

My  noble  boy  from  Kentucky  had  no  family,  and 


FRONTIKK    I.IKK.  253 

lie  put  out  Ills  stn»n«;  urniH  for  me  to  lean  uj>on.  The 
rest  of  my  children  tlu>u«;ht  it  best,  and  I  chose  him, 
and  he  has  borne  tlie  burden  of  my  business,  and  has 
been  very  kind,  very,  for  lo!  those  nine  years,  and  has 
been  very  attentive  to  my  interests.  Our  business  is 
so  blended  that  what  is  for  his  interest  is  f<»r  mine, 
and  what  is  for  my  interest  is  for  his;  but  there  is  one 
thing  about  our  business  that  is  a  little  unj)leasant, 
and  that  is,  we  cannot  be  together  as  much  as  we 
would  like  to,  as  my  interest  is  in  Illinois,  and  his  is 
in  Kentucky,  and  his  b\isiness  is  such  that  he  ci\nnot 
visit  me  oftener  than  once  a  year;  then  lie  rights  up  my 
business  and  goes  again;  but  we  correspond  about 
once  a  week,  and  oh,  how  his  loving  counsel  comforts 
my  poor  old  heart;  I  can  scarcely  wait  with  the 
patience  I  should  until  the  mail  comes  that  brings  the 
kind  message;  I  think  it  one  of  the  greatest  blessings 
of  this  life  that  we  can  correspond  so  quickly,  surely 
and  nicely  with  those  we  love. 

Soon  after  this  arrangement  was  made  the  young 
doctor,  M.  C.  Hoe,  betjan  to  think  of  returnin*'  to 
Nebraska.  The  rest  of  the  children  had  returned  to 
their  respective  homes,  and  when  he  and  his  family 
went,  1  wished  to  g<j  also.  I^ut  about  the  time  they 
Avere  ready  to  start  I  was  taken  violently  sick  with 
lung  fever,  and  was  taken  to  my  oldest  son's  home,  in 
Franklin,  Lee  county.  111.,  and  oh,  how  kind  they  all 
were  to  me,  especially  dear  Emma,  the  oldest  daughter 
at  home,  who  went  down  with  the  (piick  consumption, 
and  died  in  about  six  short  mouths  Uom  that  time, 
much  lamented  by  her  parents,  brothers  and  sisters, 
and    many    loving    friends.        She    w;is  at    my    l>ed- 


254  KECOLLECTIONS   OF 

side,  always  ready  to  smooth  my  pillow,  or  give  me 
my  medicine,  and  I  shall  ever,  with  loving  gratitude, 
remember  how  tenderly  her  soft  hand  was  pressed  to 
my  aching  head,  or  how  gently  she  would  rub  my  side 
when  I  suffered  the  most  severe  pain.  And  her  father 
was  so  very  kind;  he  scarcely  left  the  room,  unless  it 
w^as  to  go  to  the  office  for  medicine,  or  for  a  bit  of 
nice  beef  to  make  some  beef  tea,  and  they  fed  it  to  me 
by  the  teaspoonful. 

One  night,  when  he  was  expecting  the  crisis,  a 
gentleman  came  to  get  him  to  go  to  see  his  wife,  fif- 
teen miles  away,  who  was  very  sick,  and  feared  she 
would  die.  The  Doctor  told  him  he  could  not  possibly 
leave  his  mother  that  night.  The  man  told  him  if  he 
would  go  he  would  give  him  the  best  horse  on  his 
farm,  and  he  had  some  very  fine  ones.  But  the 
Doctor  said,  "Xo,  dear  sir;  I  cannot  leave  my  dear 
mother;  there  will  be  a  crisis  with  her  to-night,  she 
will  be  better  by  morning,  or  will  not  be  living.  I 
will  prescribe  for  your  wife,  and  you  go  home  and 
give  the  medicine  as  I  direct,  and  I  will  try  to  be  at 
your  house  as  soon  as  I  can  drive  there  in  the  morn- 
ing." He  sat  by  me  all  night  and  watched  my  pulse 
and  gave  the  medicine  himself,  and  about  twelve 
o'clock,  he  said,  "  Ma,  there  is  a  favorable  change  in 
your  pulse ;  I  hope  by  morning  there  will  be  a  very 
evident  change  for  the  better."  I  told  him  I  could 
breathe  easier.  "  That  is  very  evident,"  said  he,  "and 
I  hope  you  will  be  quite  comfortable  by  morning.'' 
And  as  each  one  came  into  my  room  in  the  morning, 
they  remarked,  "Oh,  grandma,  you  are  better."  I 
answered,  "Assuredly,  I  am  much  easier."     By  nine 


FRONTIER    LIKK.  255 

■  •'clock  the  Doctor  tlumi^lit  it  safe  to  leave  me,  and  he 
went  to  his  patient  and   fonnd   her  much  l)etter. 

That  chiy  the  y(>un«i^  doctor  called  to  let  nie  know 
he  was  going  to  start  for  ^'ebraska.  lie  said,  "  Dear 
nia,  you  are  l>etter,  but  so  very  weak,  that  it  will  be  a 
long  time  beftjre  you  will  be  able  to  travel  to  Xebnusika, 
but  do  not  be  uneasy  about  home,  1  will  take  care  of 
home  and  do  the  best  I  can,"  and  as  he  stooped  down 
to  kiss  me,  the  great  tears  dro}>ped  onto  my  face,  and 
as  he  left  the  room  I  said,  "My  dear  son,  take  good 
care  of  your  dear  father's  grave." 

I  gradually  improved,  but  from  the  first  of  that 
tickness  I  felt  that  to  live,  to  me,  was  Christ,  but  to 
die  would  be  gain;  I  should  leave  a  world  of  toil  and 
care  and  pain,  and  go  to  a  world  of  peace  and  joy,  to 
meet  those  loved  ones  who  had  gone  l)ef« >re ;  and  al)ove 
all  I  should  be  with  Christ,  my  living  Head.  The 
Doctor  asked  me  several  times,  "  Ma,  shall  I  not  send 
for  tlie  other  children?"  "Oh,  no,"  I  said,  "I  have 
been  with  them  all  so  lately,  and  bid  them  farewell  in 
view  of  my  journey  to  Nebniska,  and  testitieil  to  them 
the  power  of  Divine  grace  at  all  times  and  under  all 
circumstances,  to  comfort  and  sustain  them,  they  will 
know  I  am  leaning  on  Jesus,  and  if  so  I  shall  enter 
the  i)ortals  safely.''  Death  seemed  to  have  no  terror, 
and  the  grave  no  gloom ;  I  felt  that  Jesus  had  lain 
there,  and  I  dreaded  not  its  gloom.  I  realized  so 
-weetly  those  beautiful  lines: 

There  sweetly  I'll  rest 
Till  He  biilfi  me  iirise 
Id  triumph  desceudin^'  the  ekiee. 

1  gained  nicely  with  the  kind  care  I  received  from 


256  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

the  good  doctor  and  family,  and  in  four  weeks  was 
able  to  start  to  my  western  home.  My  son  who  lived 
in  Iowa,  Mathew  C,  accompanied  me.  "W^e  had  a 
very  pleasant  trip,  and  arrived  safely  at  our  western  home 
about  the  20th  of  April,  and  found  my  husbad's  grave 
just  as  I  left  it.  and  that  the  young  doctor  and  family 
had  arrived  in  safety  and  were  preparing  to  move  to 
Beatrice,  having  conditionally  rented  the  farm  to  Mr. 
Maine.  I  took  with  me  from  an  Iowa  nursery  a 
thousand  grafts  of  fruit,  with  the  intention  of  culti- 
vating quite  a  little  nursery.  I  had  grapes,  currants, 
gooseberries,  raspberries  and  strawberries.  After  my 
son  had  set  out  my  nnrsery  nicely  for  me  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  Iowa.  After  looking  the  country  over 
a  little  he  made  up  his  mind  that  he  could  not  sell 
his  farm  in  Iowa,  and  come  and  live  in  Xebraska  with 
me.  He  thought  our  country  very  fine  and  our  home 
nice,  but  he  liked  Iowa  better,  and  thought  it  to  his 
best  interest  to  remain  in  Iowa.  I  was  in  hopes  he 
would  make  up  his  mind  to  come  the  next  spring  at 
least,  and  with  this  hope  to  encourage  me  I  tried  to 
be  reconciled  to  my  situation.  I  rented  the  farm 
to  Mr.  Maine,  I  was  to  furnish  the  seed  and  team  and 
he  to  do  the  haiwesting  and  receive  half  the  profits. 
He  had  let  a  large,  destitute  family  into  my  largest 
and  best  room,  in  a  very  severe  storm,  for  a  few  days, 
until  the  storm  should  abate.  They  were  making 
their  way  to  their  homestead  west  of  us  about 
seventy-five  miles.  We  had  had  previous  to  this  very 
mild  winters,  but  this  winter  was  very  severe,  but 
there  was  plenty  of  work  they  could  get  to  do. 
They  were  two  old  men  and  two  vounof  men,  and  they 


FRONTIKU    LIFE.  25  i 

fuiiiid  theiiiselves  wvll  housed  in  :i  ^^mul  \v:ii-iii  house, 
with  ]>k'ntv  of  uiihusked  c«>rM  in  thr  tichl  and 
jdentv  of  i^ood  wood  in  the  ^rove  iioarbv,  :i  nice  hir»^ 
^tuve  in  the  room,  and  the  man  I  left  there  hired  them 
to  haul  his  wood  and  gather  the  eorn  tui  shares,  and 
they  never  left  there  until  the  first  of  April.  There 
were  nine  in  the  family,  and  they  had  made  dreadful 
work  with  my  house,  tore  off  the  })la8terin«^,  ])roke 
out  the  glass,  burned  the  lioor,  and  destroyed  things 
iT^  general,  and  with  the  loss  in  old  corn  and  wood  and 
destruction  in  the  house,  I  suffered  over  an  hundred 
dollars  loss,  and  no  one  to  pay  me  in  either  gratitude 
or  money. 

The  Doctor  moved  to  Beatrice.  His  object  in 
doing  so  was  to  concentrate  his  ]»ractice;  he  thought 
the  peo})le  wonld  not  go  so  far  for  him,  but  they  did; 
went  from  the  settlements  all  around  where  he  had 
l)racticed  before,  and  plead  so  hard,  that  he  would  go. 
It  was  very  sickly  that  fall,  and  his  change  of  residence 
eventually  made  his  practice  harder  on  him  than  ever 
bef<.>re, 

1  was  left  alone  with  the  tenant  and  his  kind  wife; 
she  was  very  kind  to  me,  but  her  husband  was  very 
unkind,  cross  and  crabbed;  but  1  wha  enabled,  through 
divine  grace,  to  bear  it  with  a  good  deal  of  j»atience, 
as  it  was  such  a  comfort  to  me  to  be  so  near  my  dear 
husband's  grave.  I  planted  roses,  mosses  and  tniiling 
tlowers  all  around  it,  which  amused  aud  intere>ted  m^ 
some. 

I  had  a  nice  garden,  and  worked  in  my  nursery 
some.  The  tenant  would  not  help  me,  Ijecause  it  was 
not   so    stated    in    the    lease;    would     n«»t    even    so 

Q 


25S  RECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

much  as  plow  it  for  me;  and  was  not  willing  the  team 
should  be  driven  to  church  on  Sunday ;  said  it  must 
rest;  so  I  had  but  little  means  of  grace  that  summer, 
but  had  the  word  of  Life  and  a  present  Saviour  to 
bless  and  comfort  me.  I  took  the  Christian  Advo- 
cate to  read,  and  occasionally  my  Christian  friends 
visited  me,  and  the  Doctor  would  call  every  time  he 
came  near  my  place,  and  that  was  quite  often.  Those 
^Tsits  were  a  great  comfort  to  me;  and  I  could  visit 
my  husband's  grave  as  often  as  I  wished,  and  to 
watch  the  rose  buds  open,  the  vines  twining  over  and 
around  it,  and  the  flowers  shedding  their  sweet  fra- 
grance over  it,  did  my  heart  good,  and  brought  to 
my  mind  the  cheering  doctrine  of  the  blessed  resur- 
rection of  the  bodv  that  lav  there  crumblino:  in  the 
dust,  and  often  my  mind  was  led  to  reflect  on  that 
morning  when  the  trumpet  shall  sound  and  the  grave 
shall  give  up  its  dead,  and  this  mortal  shall  put  on 
immortality  and  rise  to  meet  the  Saviour  in  the  sky, 
with  ten  thousand  thousand  angels  around  Him,  and 
we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is,  and  we  shall  be  like  Him, 
and  where  He  is,  we  shall  be  also.  I  had  rather  a 
pleasant  time,  although  there  were  many  lonely  hours 
and  days. 

I  received  a  letter  about  the  middle  of  June  from 
my  son  John,  who  was  in  Kentucky,  saying  he 
would  visit  me  about  the  iirst  of  July.  He  had 
never  seen  our  new  hume  or  any  part  of  Xebraska. 
I  thought  I  would  like  to  have  my  home  look  as 
cheerful  as  possible.  As  I  had  anticipated  this  visit, 
my  old  carpet  being  quite  worn,  I  had  prepared  a 
nice  new  rag  carpet  and  sent  it  to  the  weaver's.    iJear 


FRONTIKK    lAVK.  250 

old  Sister  Aiidrewrf  had  urran;^'ud  with  a  })hi.sterLT 
to  plaster  my  rooms  that  had  heen  ho  much'  ahiised. 
I  C(juld  not  get  lime  then,  but  had  heard  uf  some  at 
l>lue  Springs.  I  hired  a  team,  wagon  and  boy,  took 
some  milling  and  went  to  Blue  Springs  to  get  some 
lime,  and  had  the  privilege  of  staying  all  night  with 
dear  Sister  Ellwood  and  family,  and  a  number  of  my 
friends  called  to  see  me  while  there.  They  were  much 
pleased  to  meet  me;  but  to  my  great  disappoint- 
ment I  found  there  was  no  lime;  it  was  all  used 
uj);  but  I  learned  of  some  on  my  way  home,  not  far 
from  where  my  carpet  was.  They  had  sent  me  word 
that  my  carpet  would  be  done  that  afternoon,  and  I 
intended  to  call  and  tret  it.  After  calliui;  on  a  few 
friends  in  the  morning  we  started,  but  had  to  go  by  a 
<liiferent  road  from  what  I  had  traveled  with  my 
husband,  and  ohl  how  I  felt  the  need  of  his  strong 
arm  to  lean  upon  then.  We  traveled  a  few  miles  on 
the  road  I  was  acquainted  with,  then  turned  off  into 
another  road.  The  boy  was  rather  stupid,  and  did 
not  understand  much  about  traveling.  It  was  an 
extremely  warm  day,  very  much  such  a  day  as  that  on 
which  my  dear  husband  died,  just  a  year  previous. 
AVe  were  on  a  large  prairie,  and  the  already  dim  road 
became  invisible,  so  we  no  longer  knew  which  way  to 
go,  and  I  was  very  much  overcome  by  the  heat.  We 
were  then  on  the  l)luffs  of  Mud  creek.  1  told  the  boy 
I  knew  if  we  went  any  farther  in  that  direction  we 
Would  })ass  the  house.  We  seemed  then  al)out  a  mile 
from  tlie  house.  AVe  went  down  the  bluff  into  the 
creek  bottom,  and  as  soon  as  we  did  so  the  bluffs 
shut  out  all  air  from  us,  and  mv  clothes   beinir  black. 


260  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

besides  holding  a  large  black  umbrella  over  us, 
seemed  to  attract  the  rays  of  the  sun  to  us.  I  could 
scarcely  get  a  breath  of  air  and  could  not  see.  I  told 
the  boy  to  hurry  the  horses,  as  I  was  afraid  I  could 
not  live  until  we  could  get  to  the  house.  He  did  so, 
and  when  we  got  there  the  kind  friends  had  to  lift  me 
out  of  the  wagon,  into  the  house  and  onto  the  bed. 
They  dashed  me  with  cold  water,  gave  me  some  of 
Dr.  Roe's  ready  relief,  rubbed  my  extremities  with  it 
to  divert  the  action  to  the  surface,  and  I  soon  began 
to  breathe  with  more  ease,  and  could  see  and  hear 
better.  After  an  hour  or  two  I  took  a  cup  of  tea  and 
some  other  refreshments. 

About  five  o'clock  we  started  on  our  way  for  the 
lime.  Sister  Andrews  and  family  urged  me  stay  all 
night,  but  I  told  them  I  thought  I  would  rather  go, 
as  the  man  would  be  at  my  house  to  do  the  plastering, 
and  I  had  but  little  time  in  which  to  have  the  plaster- 
ing and  cleaning  done  and  my  carpet  down,  before  my 
son  would  arrive,  and  I  thought  we  could  get  the  lime 
loaded  before  dark,  and  there  would  be  a  nice  bright 
moon,  and  I  would  rather  risk  riding  by  the  moon- 
light than  go  in  the  morning  when  the  sun  shone. 
They  said  perhaps  it  would  be  better,  and  one  of  the 
young  men  went  with  us  to  help  load  the  lime,  and 
Sister  Andrews  said  he  might  go  all  the  way  home 
with  us,  too,  but  as  I  knew  the  way  perfectly  after  I 
got  onto  the  Beatrice  road,  I  did  not  tliink  it 
necessary. 

We  got  the  lime  loaded,  and  got  onto  the  Beatrice 
road  just  as  the  moon  was  rising,  and  we  had  only 
seven  miles  to  go  then,  and  the  road  was  good,  but  our 


FROXTIKU    I. IKK.  201 

load  was  heavy,  team  ]»«).. r,  aiid  wi-  n«'('('.>.s:iril\  liau  t<> 
go  slow.  AVe  (lid  m»t  reach  hoiur  until  ahoiit  eh'M'ii 
o'clock. 

Early  the  next  morniii",^  the  i>la>teivr  was  there, 
and  prosecuted  and  finished  his  juhof  plastering  nicely, 
and  I  got  my  house  cleaned,  and  ciirj>et  mmle  and  down, 
and  everything  in  comfortal»le  order  hy  thetiniemy  son 
arrived.  Hut  the  mason  said  that  if  I  ha<l  nut  ;rut 
home  that  night  he  would  have  taken  another  job,  and 
I  Would  have  been  disap})ointed.  AVe  had  a  good 
visit.  The  Doctor  and  family  and  some  other  friends 
came  and  visited  with  us,  and  I  went  with  my  son  and 
called  on  them  and  a  lady  who  had  lived  in  Kentucky 
when  he  first  went  there  and  taught  schocd ;  she  was  a 
little  girl  then,  and  went  to  school  to  him,  but  was 
now  married  and  had  two  sweet  little  children,  and 
resided  in  Beatrice.  When  she  heard  he  was  coming 
she  left  a  standing  invitation  with  the  Doctor  for  him 
to  call  and  see  them  and  bring  his  mother.  He  and 
the  Doctor's  family  had  a  pleasant  visit  with  them. 
The  lady's  mother  lived  with  her,  and  they  were 
delijrhted  to  see  their  old  friend  and  teacher;  and  he 
was  much  pleased  to  find  there  in  that  far-«»tf  new 
country  an  old  friend  and  ])Upil.  The  greeting  was 
cordial,  I  assure  you,  and  I  conlially  invited  them  to 
visit  us,  and  they  thought  they  W(»uld,  but  it  was 
(juite  ;i  distance  and  his  stay  was  short,  so  they  could 
not  avail  themselves  of  the  pleasure,  but  we  visited 
often  at  the  Doctor's. 

My  son  ccjuld  not  stay  hnig  on  Jiccount  o£  bu^ilu•^s 
at  home,  but  he  rode  out  several  times  with  the 
Doctor   when    visiting    patients.      lie    liktMl    the    mw 


262  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

country  very  much,  especially  our  new  home,  and  he 
left  us  with  the  hope  that  he  would  visit  us  again  in 
the  future,  but  thought  it  sad  to  leave  me  so  lonely. 

Xow  all  my  sons  had  seen  the  new  country  l)ut 
Giles  Bolivar,  and  he  talked  of  coming  soon.  F.  M. 
Roe  had  made  a  short  visit  m  the  spring  after  we  got 
home. 

My  tenant  did  not  do  much  with  the  farm,  and 
was  so  unpleasant  that  I  felt  as  though  I  could  not 
keep  him  another  year,  and  began  to  think  of  look- 
ing for  another  tenant. 

As  the  fall  came  on  sickness  increased,  and  the 
Doctor  rode  day  and  night,  until  he  was  taken  very 
sick  himself  with  billions  fever,  and  his  life  was 
despaired  of.  All  the  physicians  within  a  great  dis- 
tance came  to  see  him,  and  all  had  their  doubts  about 
his  case,  but  Doctor  Webb,  a  graduate  from  the  Cin- 
cinnati Eclectic  College,  was  his  attending  physician. 
He  was  very  attentive  and  kind,  and  succeeded  in 
bringing  him  safely  through,  and  in  a  few  weeks  he 
was  at  his  post  again,  and  while  he  was  recuperating, 
the  second  ride  he  took,  he  took  me  home  to  the  farm, 
— I  had  been  with  him  during  his  sickness — and  while 
there  he  made  up  his  mind  to  rent  the  farm  and  carry 
it  on  with  hired  help,  and  give  up  the  town  practice, 
as  he  could  not  stand  both,  and  while  carrying  on  my 
farm  he  could  cultivate  and  improve  his  own  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  his  father  had 
given  him  a  deed  to  before  his  death.  This  was  very 
gratifying  to  my  feelings,  and  in  a  few  weeks  he 
moved  his  family  in  with  me,  as  there  was  no  house 
on  his  farm  yet.     The  tenant  remained  until  the  crops 


FRONTIKK    I.IKK.  263 

were  secured  aii<l  thiii  left.  After  his  departure  we 
had  plenty  of  nMun  for  \\w  wintor.  It  was  with 
8oine  rep^ret  that  the  Dortor  and  family  left  Heatrice, 
it  heiug  then  (piite  a  large  and  j)n>niising  town,  ami 
the  citizen?  were  very  anxious  to  have  them  remain. 
When  my  husband  and  I  first  visited  Heatrice  to 
attend  the  quarterly  meeting  spt»ken  of,  it  was  but  a 
little  clump  of  houses  m<>stly  log,  with  a  few  stone 
dwellings,  and  a  very  small  frame  scIkjoI  house  to  wor- 
shil>  ^'^^  ^^^^  court  house  was  a  very  inferior  building, 
although  there  was  a  good  deal  of  business  done  there, 
the  goods  being  In-ought  there  by  freighters  from 
the  Missouri  river.  In  less  than  three  years  we 
attended  the  dedication  of  a  l^eautiful  Methodist 
stone  church,  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred. 
There  was  also  a  large  brick  church  about  ready  to  be 
dedicate<l  by  the  Presbyterians,  a  large  brick  court 
house  of  a  very  attractive  appearance,  a  line  Bai)tist 
church  in  j)rogress,  a  fifty  acre  addition  to  the  incor- 
]M)ration  and  that  building  up  ra])idly,  a  large  elegant 
hotel,  and  several  fine  business  houses  all  of  stone, 
and  last  but  not  least,  a  large  public  sduwd  lu>use 
built  of  brick,  graded,  and  manned  with  teachers, 
two  hun<lred  scholars,  and  it  has  kept  ahead  ever 
since  the  railnjad  reached  it.  No  freighters  are  now 
to   l>e   seen   campe<l    on  the  road  side  all  along  from 

I  Beatrice  to  the  Missouri  river,  as  was  the  custom  when 
we  first  went  to  that  country.  I  recollect  one  time 
when  we  ate  a  meal  with  some  freighters  on  the  road. 
They  had  sto]»})e<l   (piite  early,  their  teams  Ijeing  all 

ired  out,  and  had  a  nice  tire  starte<l  and  the  c»»fTee.j>ot 
-teamin<r.     Thev  were  on  their  wav  from    lb-. .^vl>-\  ilb- 


264  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

on  the  Missouri  to  Beatrice  with  a  heavy  load,  and  our 
team  was  on  the  way  to  Bro\^TLSville  to  convey  Mr. 
Corbin  and  my  self  to  the  cars,  on  our  way  to  Illinois,  and 
then  to  return  with  lumber  for  our  new  house.  The 
men  folks  halted  to  inquire  about  the  situation  of  the 
road.  We  were  nearing  the  Ximebaugh,  a  large 
stream,  and  the  river  bottoms  were  generally  very 
muddy.  We  asked  about  the  road,  and  the  freighter 
replied,  "  You  will  hnd  it  bad  enough,  I  assure  you. 
you.  Are  you  going  through  to  town  to-night  ?" 
'•  Yes,-'  was  the  answer.  "  Well,  you  had  better  stop 
and  water  and  feed  your  team,  and  if  the  old  lady 
would  like  a  cup  of  coffee  I  have  plenty  on  the  lire. 
I  know  you  will  not  find  any  chance  to  get  a  cup  of 
coffee  between  this  and  Brownsville,  and  it  will  take 
you  until  ten  o'clock  to  get  there.  I  have  plenty  to 
eat,  all  but  bread."  "  Well,"  said  Mr.  Corbin,  "  we 
have  plenty  of  crackers  and  cheese,  and  some  apples. 
We  thought  we  would  get  there  by  late  supper  time." 
"  Oh,  well;"  said  the  freighter,  ''let's  join  and  take 
supper  together."  The  gentlemen  said  '•  All  right," 
and  just  as  we  were  about  to  eat,  there  was  a  gentle- 
man drove  up  who  was  also  going  to  Bro'^Tis^'ille  for 
lumber.  He  lived  at  Blue  Springs.  He  concluded  to 
stop  and  take  his  sup2)er  with  us,  which  made  five  in 
all.  He  boiled  his  coffee  in  a  faw  minutes,  and  we 
were  soon  enjoying  ourselves  as  well  as  at  a  tea  party, 
first  one  and  then  another  telling  something  that  was 
interesting  about  our  experience  in  this  country.  The 
gentleman  turned  to  me  and  said,  "'  Grandma,  I  think 
I  saw  you  at  Blue  Springs  something  over  two  years 
ago,  when  you  and  your  husband  were  looking  for  a 


FRONTIKR    LIKK.  265 

1k»iiil'  ill  tills  c'lumtrv.  Wt'iv  v<ni  tlii'ivf"  "  Ves, 
sir;''  I  replied.  "  Your  liuslmnd  is  a  doctor?  '*  *'  Ves, 
sir;'-  I  replied,  airJiin.  "  Vuu  atteiideil  aineetin«;tliere 
uii  a  Sabbath  C'  .Viraiii  I  answered,  ''  Yes,  sir.'' 
"  AVell,  that  was  a  i^oo*!  iiieetin«^,  and  one  I  sliall 
always  reineinl»er.  I  had  enjoyed  reli«^ion,  an<l  did 
when  I  eaniehere;  hut  I  htranie  all  absorbed  in  busi- 
ness, and  anxious  to  become  rich  in  this  world's  «xuods. 
I  nei^deeted  j)rayer,  and  of  course,  lost  my  enjoyment 
and  became  very  wicked.  I  could  swear  like  a  pirate. 
That  day  I  thought  1  would  g(»  to  meeting,  as  there 
were  a  number  of  strangers  there  who  were  viewing 
our  country,  and  see  who  they  were  and  what  they 
were;  and  while  you  and  your  husband  were  talking 
about  the  great  importance  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
beautiful  country  living  faithfully  and  setting  up  our 
banner  for  the  Lord,  and  laying  the  foundation  of  a 
religious  society  in  this  new  country,  the  sj)irit  of  the 
Lord  awakened  my  soul  to  see  what  I  had  been  doing, 
and  I  had  no  i)eace  of  mind  day  or  night  until  I  found 
it  in  a  sense  of  pardon  through  the  atoning  blood  of 
Jesus  and  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  my  heart. 
And  now  I  would  not  exchange  it  for  all  the  wealth  of 
this  World."  I  told  hini  I  was  glad  to  tind  him  in 
such  a  state  of  feeling,  and  1  hope<l  he  w«>uld  live 
faithful  and  do  all  the  good  he  c«»uld  in  the  wi»rld.  lie 
asked  me  where  we  were  located.  1  told  him,  and  he 
said  he  knew  where  it  was.  "  N(tw,"  said  he,  *'  I  d(> 
hope  you  and  the  venerable  old  doctor  will  c«)me  and 
see  us.  We  have  a  good  class  there  now,  and  are  talk- 
ing of  building  a  church,"  We  did  go,  and  found  a 
great  change.       1  think  I  havr  bp.»k«'ii   <»f  )ii>   t.-lling 


RBOOij:.Bcnoxs  of 

Ms  experience  in  love  feast.  The  Bine  Springs  class 
bnilt  the  first  chiircli  in  tlie  Bine  Biver  Yallev  in 
Gage  connty.  I  felt  as  though  I  had  been  to  a  class 
meeting.  The  men  hitched  on  their  horses  and  we 
divdve  to  BrownsviUe  that  night,  although  it  was  ver}' 
muddy  and  t-ook  ns  until  eleven  o'clock.  We  left  the 
good  old  freighter  and  his  son  alone,  to  sleep  in  their 
wagon  and  make  their  wav  to  Beatrice  the  next  day. 
We  fonnd  the  cars  ready  next  morning,  and  pursued 
onr  way,  reaching  our  home  and  friends  in  Illinois  at 
lialf-past  two  o'dlock  next  morning. 


FROXTIKK    I.IFK.  267 


FUNERAL    SERMON. 


Delivered  at  the  IIe-intekment  of  Dr.  John  1i«»e. 
BY  I1e\  .  Thos.  R.  Satterfieli),  Pastor  (jf  Light 
House  Point  M.  E.  Chlkch,  Ogle  C<>.,  III. 

'^Blessed  are  the  dead  wliicli  die  in  tlie  Lord." 
Pvevelatioiis,  U:  13. 

Dr.  John  Poe  was  Iniried  in  Nebraska  in  June,  1>7 1 . 
Being  on  the  frontier  of  a  new  state,  he  was  away 
from  nearly  all  of  his  old  friends  and  relatives,  his  wife 
and  one  son  only  being  present  to  drop  ;i  tear.  By  the 
affection  of  his  wife  (who  has  made  her  home  in  Illi- 
nois) and  children,  his  body  has  been  brought  to  thi> 
place  for  re-interment,  and  to-day  are  gathered  in  this 
house  his  children  and  friends.  They  have  come  from 
Kentucky,  from  Iowa,  from  Chicago,  from  Malta, 
from  Ashton,  from  Franklin  (irove,  from  Chana.  and 


268  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

from  Mt.  Morris,  to  be  present  at  tliis  re-interment^ 
and  it  is  thought  best  to  improve  this  occasion 
hj  an  ap])ropriate  funeral  sermon^  •  and  I  know  of  no 
more  appropriate  words  for  the  occasion  than  the 
words  selected,  "Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord." 

Man  is  unwilling  to  consider  the  subject  of  death.. 
The  shroud,  the  mattock  and  the  grave,  he  labors  to- 
keep  out  of  sight.  He  would  live  here  always  if  he 
cuuld ;  and  since  he  cannot,  he  would  put  away  everj 
emblem  of  death  from  his  sight.  Perhaps  there  is  no 
subject  of  so  much  importance  so  little  thought  of. 

The  old  Egyptians  were  wiser  than  we.  We  are  told 
that  at  their  feasts  there  was  an  extraordinary 
guest  who  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table.  He  ate  not;, 
he  drank  not;  he  spoke  not;  he  was  closely  veiled.  It 
was  a  skeleton  they  placed  there,  to  warn  them  that 
ever  in  their  feasting  they  should  remember  there 
would  be  an  end  of  life.  If  we  were  more  frequently^ 
reminded  of  our  mortality,  and  would  more  frequently 
think  of  death,  it  would  lead  us  to  set  our  affections 
on  things  above,  and  not  on  things  below.  The  text- 
says:  "Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord."' 
It  is  the  fate  of  all  that  live  to  die.  Both  the  just 
and  unjust  must  die.  Death  is  no  respecter  of  per- 
sons. Like  Howers  bitten  l)y  the  frosts  of  autumn, 
generation  after  generation  are  swept  away.  The- 
peasant  dies  in  his  hut  nestled  among  the  hills ;  the 
man  of  business  ceases  from  his  anxieties  and  breathes 
his  last  amid  the  busy  marts  in  the  city  full;  the 
student  leaves  his  books  and  papers,  and  his  feverish- 
brow  is  cold  in  death;    the  prudent  physician,  after 


KKoNTlKK    MFK. 

adininistering  to  the  ivlief  of  otln  rs,  must  leave  his 
pills  and  powders,  his  bleedin«^  ami  Mistering, 
^nd  close  his  eyes  ii|>oii  liis  patients  ami  open  them  to 
_gaze  on  things  invisi])le  to  us.  All  that  live  must 
<lie.  The  monarch  must  lay  aside  his  diacK'iii  and 
scepter;  the  savage  must  })art  from  his  sturdy  l«»\v, 
and  both  re})ose  in  the  narrow  limits  appointed  for  all 
living.  "Our  fathers,  where  are  they?"  Let  the 
graves  answer.  Their  voices  are  silent  in  death,  and 
niethinks  I  hear  Abraham  say,  "Their  bodies  are  in 
my  bosom.''  Ten,  twenty,  iifty,  or  one  hundred  years 
hence,  and  all  of  this  coni^rci^ation  will  lie   moulder- 

■  CI  O 

ing  in  the  grave.  What  says  the  Apostle^  "Death 
has  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinneil.'' 
Yet  with  our  text  we  can  exclaim,  "Blessed  are  the 
•dead  which  die  in  the  Lord." 

Before  showing  that  death  by  gmce  is  turned  into 
a  blessing,  let  me  make  a  few  remarks  in  regard  to 
4eath.  1st.  Let  me  begin  by  incpiiring  in  regard  to 
its  origin.  Why  is  it  that  you  and  I  must  diei* 
Whence  came  these  seeds  of  corruption  that  are  sown 
in  these  bodies  of  ours  i  The  angels  die  not.  They 
know  nothiui^of  old  a^^e  and  •'rav  hairs;  of  aches  and 
pains  ;  of  coughs,  colds  and  consumption.  Why, 
then,  must  you  and  I  suffer  and  die?  Because  we 
have  sinned.  Sin,  thou  art  the  mother  of  death  I 
Adam,  thou  hast  digged  the  grave  of  thy  posterity  I 
Sin  slays  the  race.  We  die  because  we  have  sinned. 
"  By  one  man  sin  entered  into  the  world,  ami  death  by 
sin;  and  so  death  passes  upon  all  men,  for  that  all 
have  sinned."  "The  wages  of  sin  is  death."  (>h! 
how  this  should  make   u<   liat*'   siri.      \\>>\v  w.*   >li..uld 


270  KECOLLECTIONS    OF 

tiy  from  it  as  from  a  deadly  serpent.  How  we  should 
detest  it,  because  the  wages  of  sin  is  death.  Brand 
from  this  day  forward  the  word  inunlerer  upon  the 
brow  of  sin. 

2d.  But  again,  let  us  mark  the  certainty  of  death. 
Die  I  must.  I  may  have  escaped  a  thousand  diseases, 
but  death  hath  an  arrow  in  his  quiver  that  will  reach 
me  at  last.  ''  It  is  appointed  unto  man  once  to  die,  but 
after  this  the  judgment."  Eun!  run!  Flyl  liyi  But 
the  fleet  pursuer  is  on  your  track  and  will  overtake 
you.  Like  the  fox  before  the  hounds,  you  may  run, 
but  the  dogs  of  death  will  overtake  you.  AVe  are 
all  right  in  the  center  of  that  stream  that  is  rushing 
to  eternity.  Xot  by  the  right  side  of  it ;  not  by  the 
left  side  of  it;  but  right  in  the  center  of  it.  And 
whether  we  wake  or  sleep,  whether  we  are  at  home  or 
abroad,  we  are  rushing  onward  to  eternity.  There  is  a 
black  camel  upon  which  death  rides,  say  the  Arabs,  and 
that  must  kneel  at  every  man's  door,  and  they  must 
mount  and  away.  At  every  man's  door  hangs  that 
black  knocker,  and  death  hath  but  to  lift  the  latch  and 
enter  and  banquet  on  our  flesh  and  blood.  Yes;  die 
I  must.  I  must  cross  that  river.  While  many  things 
may  be  uncertain,  death  is  certain.  There  are  so  many 
ways  to  get  out  of  this  world — by  apoplexy;  by  slip 
or  fall ;  by  a  fractious  horse ;  by  a  falling  wall ;  by  a 
misplaced  switch;  by  assassination;  l)y  a  falling 
bridge.  Suddenly  the  curtain  falls,  the  lights  are  put 
out,  and  man's  place  knows  him  no  more.  In  my 
own  house  there  are  a  thousand  gates  to  death.  From 
this  pulpit  where  I  stand  there  is  a  straight  path 
to  the  grave.     From  your  seats  there  is  an  entrance 


FRONTIER    LU-K.  J 71 

into  eternity.  .Iii>t  before  every  man,  WMUuin  and 
child  in  this  congret^ition  I  see  a  niattoek,  a  spade, 
a  eottin,  a  windiiiir  sheet  ;ind  an  open  «xrave.  ()]i!  let 
ns  think  how  nncertain  life  is.  *'  What  is  your  lifelf" 
asks  Job.  "It  is  even  a  vapor  that  appeareth  for  a  little 
time  and  then  vanisheth  away."  Ai^ain,  the  Psalmist 
says,  "  As  for  man,  his  days  are  as  ^niss.  As  a  tiower 
<  'f  the  field,  so  lie  ilourisheth.  For  the  wind  passeth 
over  it,  and  it  is  gone;  and  the  ])lace  thereof  shall 
know  it  no  more."  Sometimes  it  is  compai*ed  to  a 
])ost,  a  mail;  to  a  weaver's  shnttle;  to  an  eagle  hasten- 
ing to  its  prey. 

The  withered  l)ough  l)y  the  highway  may  crush  us. 
Tlie  deceitful  brot>k  may  overwhelm  ns.  The  whiz- 
zing bullet  may  pierce  us.  The  calm  sky  may  grow 
wrathful  and  with  his  hoarse  voice  and  red  right  arm 
may  summon  us  with  liglitning  speed  into  eternity. 
If  we  escape  from  without,  some  secret  enemy  may 
do  tlie  deed.  The  head  grows  dizzy;  the  blood  rushes 
with  unaccustomed  speed;  the  heart  sickens  and 
faints;  its  beatings  are  hushed,  and  as  the  sword  leaps 
from  its  scabbard,  the  soul  has  leaped  from  the  body. 

"  Time,  like  an  ever-rolling  stream, 
Bears  all  its  sons  away; 
Tliey  riy,  forgotten,  as  a  dream 
Dies  at  the  opening  day. 

"  Dangers  stand  thick  through  all  the  ground. 
To  push  us  to  the  tomb  ; 
And  tierce  diseases  wait  around, 
To  hurry  mortals  home." 

Notice,  again,  the  terrors  which  surround  death. 
The  i)ains,  the  groans,  the  dying  strife,  which   make 


*^72  EECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

our  souls  start  back  from  tlie  tomb.  To  the  best  men 
on  earth  the  mere  act  of  dying  is  a  solemn  thing.  In 
death  we  must  leave  behind  all  of  earth.  We  must 
sav  farewell  to  the  house  we  called  home ;  farewell  to 
Hreside  and  little  prattlers  that  have  climbed  mj 
knees ;  farewell  to  her  who  walked  bv  mj  side  during 
life,  and  was  the  comj)anion  of  my  youth ;  farewell  to 
all  things — estate,  gold  and  silver;  farewell  earth  and 
time;  farewell  to  all  the  means  of  grace.  Xo  bell 
shall  call  me  to  the  house  of  God.  There  is  no  rectifi- 
cation or  correction  of  mistakes  beyond  the  dead  line. 
If  I  have  neglected  Christ,  I  shall  hear  of  Christ  no 
more. 

Oh  I  picture  yourself  as  dying  now.  Suppose  you 
have  now  come  to  the  vast,  the  shoreless,  the  illimit- 
able eternity  like  a  star ;  suppose  you  are  now  hover- 
ing between  two  worlds  I  Open  that  window,  that  I 
may  get  a  little  air.  Gather  the  friends  together  to 
see  him  die.  Telegraph  for  the  son ;  call  the  daughter. 
The  fi'iends  gather  around  the  bedside.  Farewell  to 
you  all,  a  last  farewell.  A  mother  bids  me  follow  her 
upward  to  the  skies.  "I  know  that  my  Eedeemer 
liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon 
the  earth;  and  though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy 
this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God,  when  I 
shall  see  for  myself,  and  mine  eyes  shall  behold  and 
not  another's."  "  For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  but  to  die 
is  gain."  I  have  a  firm  and  abiding  trust  in  Jesus; 
His  grace  is  sufiicient  for  me,  but  now  the  lips  refuse 
to  speak;  we  breathe  heavily;  they  stay  us  up  in  bed 
with  pillows;  the  eye-strings  break;  my  hands  are 
paralyzed  by  my  side ;  there  is  a  hush  now  in  the  room ; 


FKO.MIKU    MJ.'K.  273 

the  clock  alone  is  heanl  tickiiigj  as  the  soul  floats  out 
into  the  ether,  and  the  friends  l>ai)tise  the  cheek  with 
their  tears.  And  where  am  I  now,  a  naked,  disem- 
bodied spirit.  The  battle  is  fuught ;  the  victory  is  won ; 
rest  warrior,  workman,  pil«,'rim,  j)hysician,  rest;  thou 
5irt  crowned  at  last.  '*  P>lessed  are  the  dea<l  which 
•die  in  the  Lord,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors,  and 
their  works  do  follow  them." 

II.  Death  is  a  blessing  to  the  righteous.  The  text 
is  true  to  the  very  letter.  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord."  "Die  in  the  Lord!"  That  is  a 
most  remarkable  expression;  but  is  an  expression  that 
corresponds  to  others  in  the  Word  of  (jod.  For 
€xample,  the  Apostle  sometimes  speaks  of  us  "  being  in 
the  Lord/'  and  sometimes  of  the  "  Lord  being  in  us." 
lie  says,  for  instance,  "  Christ  in  you,  the  hope  of 
glory."  Then  again,  he  says,  **  I  am  crucified  with 
Christ;  ivevertheless  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth 
in  me."  "Abide  in  me  and  I  in  you."  "He  that 
abideth  in  me  and  I  in  him,  the  same  bringeth  forth 
much  fruit;  for  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing."  AVe 
abide  in  Ilim  by  faith,  and  He  in  us  by  His  Holy 
Spirit. 

Xow,  whether  the  expression  be  Christ  in  u>,  or  we 
in  Christ,  the  meaning  is  the  same  so  far  as  it 
expresses  the  union  that  exists  between  Christ  and 
Ilis  people — between  the  Saviour  and  the  saved.  A 
union  more  intimate  than  marriage,  which  the  laws  uf 
the  land  may  separate.  A  union  more  intimate  than 
the  soul  and  the  body,  wiiich  the  whizzing  bullet  may 
sever.  The  union  existing  between  Chri>t  and  his 
people  is  one  of  incorporation  rather  than   ci»-u])era- 


274  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

tion.  As  the  trunk  and  brandies  of  the  tree  have  sap 
in  common,  as  my  body  and  limbs  have  blood  in 
common,  so  Jesus  and  His  people  have  all  things^ 
in  common.  "  All  mine  is  thine,"  he  say«.  Hi& 
Father  ours ;  His  merit  ours ;  His  righteousness  ours ; 
His  victory  ours ;  His  glory  ours ;  His  immortality 
ours.  And  with  angels,  dominions,  principalities  and 
powers,  we  shall  run  the  high  race  of  glory,  and 
honor,  and  immortality,  the  smile  of  the  Lord  being 
the  feast  of  the  soul. 

To  be  in  Christ,  that  is  it;  to  be  in  Christ,  that  is 
the  thought  that  hallows  the  dying  hour.  This  text 
has  no  promises  to  those  who  are  not  in  Christ.  If 
in  Christ  you  are  saved:  out  of  Christ,  you  are  lost,, 
hopelessly,  eternally  lost.  But  to  be  in  Christ  is  to 
enjoy  all  the  blessings  He  shed  His  blood  to  purchase 
for  me.  What  more  could  we  have?  what  more  could 
we  wish  for?  To  be  in  Christ  is  to  be  in  His  Father's 
bosom,  all  sins  forgiven,  heaven  sure  at  last.  With 
Christ  we  shall  be  crowned  in  glory.  Well  then  may 
the  Apostle  say,  "Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 
the  Lord."  They  are  blessed.  They  must  be  blessed; 
how  can  they  be  otherwise?  Die?  yes,  they  must,  but 
death  has  lost  its  sting.  The  Apostle  asks,  "O  death,, 
where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave  where  is  thy  victory?'' 
The  sting  of  death  is  sin.  It  is  sin  that  gives  death 
its  sting.  If  you  extract  the  sting  from  a  bee,  a  wasp,, 
a  hornet,  or  any  insect,  it  is  powerless  to  hurt  you,  its 
sting  is  gone.  So,  if  the  sin  which  gives  death  its 
sting  be  extracted  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  death  is 
powerless  to  hurt  you,  for  its  sting  is  gone.  So  that  it 
makes  but  little  difference  when,  or  where,  or  how  they 


KKONTIKK    I.IFK.  275 

(He.  Tlie  thing  is  nothing,  if  onlv  it  Ik*  in  the  I^nnl. 
Wliether  we  die  in  heil,  surroundtMl  witli  frifiids,  ur 
(He  in  hattle  anii<I  tlie  roar  of  caiintui,  the  hur^ting  of 
>hells  or  whizzinir  "f  Imllcts  and  trmans  of  the  dving, 
or  are  Hke  a  niartvr  swinging  in  tlie  air,  or  hnrn  at 
the  stake,  (►r  are  engnlfed  in  tlie  iiiiirhtv  dec)*,  dviiig 
in  the  Lord  they  are  blesssed. 

It  has  j)roved  a  ciMiifort  to  a  sinking  cliild  to  fed  a 
kind  mother's  arms  aronnd  it.  to  expire  with  its  head 
resting  on  lier  hosom.  And  when  the  dying  can  no 
longer  see  it  is  a  consolation  to  have  some  h»ved  one 
near.  How  often  I  have  heard  the  dying  soMier  say, 
*•  I  could  die  happy  if  I  could  only  see  my  mother 
l>efore  I  die;  or  if  I  could  only  see  my  devoted  wife 
before  I  die."  But  oh  I  is  it  not  far  better  to  Ix*  able 
to  say  with  Stephen,  "  I  see  Jesus  at  the  right  hand 
of  God;"  or,  with  Paul,  "I  am  now  i*eady  to  Ije 
offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I 
have  fought  the  tight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I 
have  kept  the  faith.  Henceforth  thei-e  is  a  crown  of 
righteousness  laid  up  for  me,  which  the  Lonl,  the 
righteous  Judge  shall  give  me  at  that  <lay;  and  not  to 
me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  that  love  His  appear- 
ing." Or  with  Senator  Foot,  of  Vermont.  He  calle(l 
his  companion  to  his  bedside  and  enfolded  her  in  his 
arms,  asking,  ''Can  this  l>e  deaths  ha>  it  come 
already?"  Then  looking  with  eyes  of  celestial  nidi- 
ance,  and  lifting  up  his  hands  he  said,  "I  see  it  I  I  see 
the  gates  wide  oikjiiI  l>eautifull  l)eautifull"  and  he 
was  not,  for  (iod  took  him. 

Hut  beyond  the  tender  accents  of  mother,  wife  or 
child's  voice;  oh!  how  blessed  to  hear  Jesus  whisper- 


276  EECOLLECTIOXS    OF 

in^,  "Fear  not,  for  I  am  with  thee.  Be  not  afraid, 
for  I  am  thy  God."  We  may  be  ready  to  sink  back 
saying,  "Ah!  Lord,  the  water  is  dark;  the  stream  is 
cold  and  deep."  How  blessed  then  to  hear  Jesus  say, 
"  Go  forward ;  fear  not,  I  have  redeemed  thee.  When 
thou  passeth  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with  thee, 
and  through  the  waves,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee. 
When  thou  walkest  through  the  flres  thou  shalt  not  be 
burned ;  neither  shall  the  flames  kindle  upon  thee,  for 
I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy 
Saviour." 

Christians,  let  the  world  shrink  from  death,  not 
you.  Death  is  the  portal  of  life  to  those  who  die  in 
the  Lord.  Think  of  it,  therefore,  not  as  death,  but  as 
glory.  Think  of  it  as  going  to  heaven;  as  going  to 
your  Father.  If  you  will  think  of  it  as  death,  let  it  be 
the  death  of  sin ;  the  death  of  pain ;  the  death  of  fear ; 
the  death  of  care;  the  death  of  death.  Regard  its 
pangs  and  struggles  as  the  battle  that  goes  before 
victory.  Its  struggles  as  the  swell  of  the  sea  on 
heaven's  happy  shore.  It  is  life  in  Christ,  and  life 
through  Christ,  and  life  for  ever  more.  How  much 
happier  and  holier  we  would  be  if  we  could  look  at 
death  in  that  light;  if  we  could  feel  every  morning, 
I  may  be  in  heaven  before  night;  and  every  night,  I 
may  be  in  heaven  before  morning.  "  ^Hien  they  rest 
from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 

III.  But  in  the  third  place  death  is  a  blessing  to 
the  Christian,  as  introducing  him  into  a  place  of  hap- 
j^iness  and  reunion  with  those  that  have  gone  before. 

To  the  believer  death  is  gain,  without  any  fraction 
of  loss.     Do  we  leave  our  friends  behind  in  death? 


FRONTIKR    MFK.  277 

AVe  shall  meet  <nir  friends  nj)  yonder,  who  have  puie 
before,  hjivin*;  washed  their  roU's  and  made  them 
white  in  the  hl(M»d  <»f  the  Lamh.  There  we  shall  met-t 
a  Friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother. 

Do  we  leave  onr  house  and  comforts  here?  \Ve  <;ain 
a  hinise  there  not  ma<le  with  han<ls,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  Do  we  lose  fart h  f  We  i^mIii  heaven.  Do 
we  lose  our  life?  Oh,  no;  we  »^ain  a  ln'tter  far — for 
liere  we  die  to  live,  hut  there  we  shall  live  to  die  no 
more.  lie  ceases  to  suffer  and  hej^ins  to  Ik;  hapj)y. 
"Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  j>eoi»le,  saith  your  (Tod.'' 
Xo  l>etter  wav  of  announcing;  a  <;ood  man's  death 
than  the  old-fashioned  way,  "  lie  is  at  rest — he  lias 
gone  home." 

''  With  Thee  there  is  fullness  of  joy,  and  at  Thy 
right  hand  there  are  pleasures  forever  more.*'  "Then 
shall  I  Ije  satisfied  when  I  awake  with  Thy  likeness." 
Society  in  heaven.  We  shall  not  find  heaven  a 
solitary  place.  St.  Paul  says,  '*  Ye  are  come  unto  Mount 
Zion  and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly 
Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumeral)lecomj>any  of  angtds.*' 
Angels  are  to  he  our  companions  in  the  skies.  Xor 
these  alone.  People  fmm  all  worlds  will  he  there, 
and  we  shall  enjoy  their  society. 

Then  shall  we  meet  tliose  loved  ones  who  have  gone 
l>ef<jre.  Fathers  an<l  mothers,  brothers  and  sisteni, 
liusbands  and  wives,  pjirents  an<l  children,  shall  meet 
at  .lesus'  feet  to  j»art  nevermore.  The  ho}>e  of  a 
re-union  with  friends  on  the  other  >lntn*.  lights  up  the 
dying  chamber  with  a  halo  of  glory. 

''(iood-l»ye  }»apa;  good-bye;  mamma  hju>  come  ft»r 
me  to-night.     Don't  cry  papa,  we  will  all  meet  again 


278  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

in  the  morning/'  Such  was  the  language  of  a  dying 
child  as  the  night  shades  of  death  closed  around  her. 
Yes;  thanks  be  unto  God,  we  shall  all  meet  again  in  the 
morning.  How  that  thrills  the  heart.  Do  we  re-inter 
our  fi'iend  in  the  dark,  damp  grave  to-day ;  how  it 
cheers  us  to  feel  that  we  will  all  meet  again  in  the 
morning,  "xlnd  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying 
unto  me,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord 
from  henceforth;  yea,  saith  the  spirit,  that  they  may 
rest  from  their  labors;  and  their  works  do  follow 
them."  Oh  I  for  an  angel's  tongue  that  words 
so  beautiful  might  have  all  their  melodious- 
ness, all  their  music,  and  all  their  force. 
Man's  mind  and  tongue  are  far  too  feeble  to  express 
them. 

Dr.  John  Eoe  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  August  19th,  ISOO.  Married  Elizabeth 
Ann  Lyon  at  Eddyville,  Kentucky,  in  1822.  Moved 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  1827.  From  thence 
to  Light  House  Point  in  the  winter  of  1834.  He  was 
the  first  settler  at  Light  House  Point.  The  beautiful 
farms  and  line  residences  of  this  region  were  at  that 
time  one  vast  open  prairie.  AVlien  the  settlers  began 
to  come  in,  his  double  log  cabin  was  opened  as  a  place 
of  worship,  and  was  the  first  regularly  established 
preaching  place  for  this  section  of  the  Rock  Piver 
Mission.  The  foundations  of  this  strong  and  flour- 
ishing Church  were  lain  through  his  zeal  and  piety. 
He  brought  God  and  the  Bible  with  him  when  he 
came,  and  they  have  remained  ever  since.  He  assisted 
in  building  the  first  M.  E.  Church  and  the  first  school 
house  of  this  place.     For  many  years  he  was  a  devoted 


KKoNTIli:     MM.  'Ji!* 

and  successful  class  leader,  saviiii:  tn  the  pi'nj.lr. 
'•  F(»11mw  11  le,  as  I  follow  Christ." 

In  1^4r)  hi*  moved  to  the  city  ()f  ('hicaijn;  in  ]^\\^ 
he  moved  to  Mt.  ^lorris;  in  the  spring  <»f  r^.^n, 
Mith  four  of  his  sons,  lie  went  to  ('alif«»rnia;  in  In.'>1 
lie  settled  at  Paynes  Point;  in  ls,')4  he  moved  to  the 
city  of  Kockford;  in  iSoC*  he  located  at  l>ethel  in 
Oi^le  Co.,  111.;  in  lsr)5,  moved  to  Malta,  J)eKalh  Co., 
111.;  in  IS^JiHie  emi^^rated  to  Ga^^e  County,  Neb.,  at 
which  i)lace  he  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy,  June  iMst, 
1S71,  in  the  seventy-tirst  year  <»f  his  a<^e.  To  him 
sudden  death  was  sudden  glory. 

V\n'  nearly  fifty  years  he  had  successfully  ])racticed 
medicine,  lie  died  at  his  ]>ost,  for  about  the  last  act 
i>f  his  long  and  successful  life  was  to  make  a  prescrip- 
tion for  one  of  Ids  patients,  and  then  was  liimself 
forever  cured.  Cicero  said,  *^  There  is  nothing  in 
which  men  are  so  allied  to  the  gods  as  when  they  try 
to  give  health  to  other  men.*' 

Dr.  Iwush  use  to  say  in  his  valedictory  addresses  to 
the  students  of  the  medical  college,  "(ientlemeii,  have 
two  pockets:  a  small  ])ocket  and  a  large  pocket;  a 
small  jKK'ket  to  juit  your  fees  in,  and  a  large  pocket  to 
put  your  annoyances  in.''  IJut  Dr.  Roe  was  a  Chris- 
tian physician;  he  had  the  grace  of  God  to  help  him 
to  overcome  his  annoyances.  To  him  the  Scripture 
was  literally  true,  "As  thy  day  so  shall  thy  strength 
be/'  AVhen  lie  came  to  doctor  tlie  eye  lie  had  cttm- 
municiitioii  with  II im  who  said  to  the  blind  man, 
**  lleceive  thy  sight,"  and  this  fair  world  burst  uj>on 
his  vision.  When  he  treated  the  paralytic  man,  lie 
liad    faith    in    that    (rod    wlm    said   to   the    j»aralvtic, 


280  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

"Stretch  forth  thy  hand,''  and  he  stretched  it  forth. 
"Wlien  lie  caine  to  treat  a  case  of  hemorrhage,  he  trusted 
in  Him  who  cured  the  issue  of  blood,  saying,  "  Tliy 
faith  hath  saved  thee."  In  the  name  of  God  he  had 
studied  tlie  properties  of  minerals  and  vegetables, 
and  had  become  acquainted  with  the  sources  of  pain, 
and  knew  how  to  ajiply  remedies  and  assuagements. 

When  he  came  to  the  bedside  of  his  patients,  he 
had  the  medicine  for  the  body  in  one  hand  and  the 
medicine  for  the  soul  in  the  other  hand.  And  when 
his  patients  would  die,  as  sometimes  die  they  must 
in  spite  of  the  skill  of  the  best  physician,  for  the 
irrevocable  decree  has  gone  forth,  "Dust  thou  art 
and  unto  dust  thou  shalt  return."  But,  oh  I  when  the 
feet  of  the  Christian  was  touching  the  dark  river  of 
death,  he  could  and  did  hold  up  the  "  Lamp  of  Life  " 
until  it  lighted  his  dark  pathway  clear  across  the 
"  dark  valley  and  shadow  of  death,"  to  that  world  of 
light  and  life  above.  A\nien  morphia  and  chloroform 
would  not  quiet  the  terror  of  the  dying  sinner;  when 
he  had  terror  in  his  eye  and  terror  in  his  heart,  start- 
ing back,  saying,  "  Oh  I  Doctor,  I  cannot  die ;  I  am 
not  ready  to  die;  "  he  could  kneel  do^^^i  by  his  bedside 
and  say,  "'  Oh  I  God,  I  have  done  the  best  I  could  to 
cure  this  man's  body,  but  I  have  failed.  Xow  I 
beseech  Thee  have  mercy  upon  his  poor,  suffering 
soul.  Oh  I  Thou  Great  Pliysician  of  souls,  apply  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb  and  cleanse  his  guilt  away;  open 
heaven  to  his  departing  spirit;  and  as  Thou  didst  save 
the  thief  upon  the  cross,  so  be  pleased  to  save  him." 

His  skill  as  a  physician,  his  consistent  Christian 
life,  his  unselfish  devotion  to  all  that  was  noble,  pure 


FKONTIKK    MFK.  2SI 

and  i^nod,  ;;iviitlv  eiuleared  liiiii  to  all  who  had  the 
gCRKJ  fortune  to  be  ac<|uainted  with  him.  Tlie  nieilical 
profession  of  this  ciuintrv  do  more  missionary  work 
without  pay  than  any  of  the  other  professions.  On  a 
cold  ni^ht,  when  tlie  thermometer  is  twenty  de;rrtH?s 
deii^rees  l)elow  zero,  they  must  leaye  tlieir  eomfortalile 
(piarters  and  face  the  storm.  Or  on  a  liot  (hiy  when 
tlie  thermometer  is  one  hundred  de*(rees  aboye,  the 
doctor  must  »^o  in  haste.  lie  must  always  go  in  haste, 
and  yery  frequently  he  must  go  without  hope  of  fee 
or  reward,  except  the  satisfaction  of  allaying  j)ain  and 
helping  suifering  humanity.  I  heard  a  man  say  that 
Dr.  liOe  had  thousands  of  dollars  on  his  books  of 
gratuitous  seryices  rendered. 

Jle  truly  loyed  all  Christians,  and  sympathized  with 
all  good  men.  His  heart  ^yas  indeed  as  bn»ad  as 
humanity.  Ilis  beneyolent  feelings  allied  him  to  all 
the  race.  Possessed  of  a  stn»ng  i)hysie-al  frame; 
of  a  broad  intellect,  and  of  a  truly  social 
nature,  he  attained  a  Wfll  deyt'lo])ed  Christian 
character. 

lie  was  a  man  of  j>raycr.  He  .-started  eyery  m(»rn- 
ing  with  a  chapter  from  the  Bible  and  his  family  on 
their  knees.  He  forgot  not  God  when  employed  in 
the  duties  of  his  profession.  The  morning  j)rayer 
came  on  one  side  of  the  day,  and  the  eyening  prayer 
on  the  other,  forming  an  arch  undef  which  he  walked 
all  the  day. 

His  ha]>i)iness  in  this  life  was  to  make  others 
lia})py.  He  liyed,  not  for  himself,  but  for  others. 
His  chief  delight  seemed  to  be  to  minister  to  the 
sick,  conifort  the  distressed,  and   heli)  forward  eyery 


282  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

«jood  wurk  that  had  for  its  object  the  amelioration  of 
the  condition  of  man. 

He  was  the  father  of  nine  cliildren,  eight  of  whom 
live  to  honor  his  memory.  One  is  not,  for  God 
transplanted  it  to  paradise  in  its  infancy. 

His  wife,  the  companion  of  his  youth,  the  mother 
of  his  children,  the  partner  of  all  his  joys  and 
sorrows,  still  survives  him.  She  is  here  to-day  to 
shed  a  tear  because  of  his  absence.  You  weep  not 
because  your  husband  is  before  the  throne,  because  he 
has  ascended  to  the  general  assembly  and  church  of 
the  first  born ;  but  you  weep  because  you  shall  see  liis 
face  no  more  until  you  shall  e^reet  him  on  the  orlori- 
lied  battlements  of  immortality.  Blessed  be  God,  I 
can  bring  my  text  to-day  and  lay  it  as  a  balm  upon 
your  lonely,  bleeding,  wounded  heart,  "And  I  heard  a 
voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me  write,  'Blessed  are 
the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth ;  yea 
saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  tlieir  labors: 
and  their  works  do  follow  them.'  " 

A  wife  and  children's  affection  liave  broucrht  the 
husband  and  father's  body  from  a  distant  State  to 
repose  in  this  soil.  The  soil  of  which  he  was  at  one 
time  the  sole  possessor.  He  had  a  clear  title  to  it  in 
fee  simple;  but  in  the  benevolence  of  his  heart  he 
gave  it  to  the  trustees  of  the  Light  House  M.  E. 
church,  both  as  a  |ftace  in  which  to  erect  a  church  and 
as  a  free  burying  place  for  rich  and  poor. 

Here,  at  tlie  scene  of  his  early  labors,  he  desired 
that  his  body  should  be  buried.  He  desired  to  rest 
in  close  proximity  to  many  of  his  old  class-mates, 
friends   and   patients;    with   the   early   settlers    and 


FKONTIKK    I.IKK.  283 

]»iuiieers  witli  wIkhii  ]iv  sliart'<l  the  li;ii<l>liij»s  an<l 
trials  of  a  frontier  life. 

It  is  only  his  body  that  ivsts  hvw.  His  inuiiortal 
spirit  is  ''without  fault  before  the  throne,"  (»n  the 
<»ther  side  nf  the  river  of  death.  Some  of  his  old 
patients,  wlio  liave  been  f(>rever  cured,  cnnie  out  to 
meet  him  and  to  \velc(>nie  him  to  the  house  of  numy 
mansions;  and  the  Old  Physician  of  Heaven,  "whose 
head  and  liairs  are  white  like  wo(d,  as  wliite  as  snow,*' 
came  out  and  said,  ''  Come  in,  come  in;  '  I  was  sick 
and  ye  visited  me;'  inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  one 
of  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  unto  me;  '  'Enttr  tlmu 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." '' 

When  this  church  was  ei*ected  his  memory  was  n<>t 
forgotten;  and  while  liis  memory  is  enshrined  in  the 
liearts  of  a  loving  peo})le,  the  affection  of  his  chil- 
dren has  placed  a  memorial  wind«»w  in  the  east  end  of 
this  church.  Over  that  window  is  the  eml^lem  of  the 
Holy  Bible.  That  Bible  was  the  iruide  of  his  youth 
and  his  solace  in  rii)er  years  and  his  «j^uide  to  immor- 
tality. It  revealed  that  Saviour  "  AVho  hath  alxdished 
death  and  brou«rht  life  and  immortality  to  \\*:^ht 
throu«:h  the  Gospel.''  It  tells  of  Him  who  j»roclaimed 
Himself  "The  resurrection  and  the  life;  he  that 
W'lieveth  in  Me,  th<jugh  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he 
live.  And  whosoever  liveth  and  l>elieveth  in  ^^•'  -ball 
never  die.'' 

"Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  rii^hteous,  an»l  let  my 
last  end  be  like  his." 

To  his  wife  and  children,  let  me  exhort  you  to  f«»l- 
low  liim  a.s  he  followed  Christ,  and  the  separation  will 
be  short  and  the  re-union  «rl<>rious. 


284  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

Alay  God  add    His  blessing,  for  His    Son's    sake. 
Amen. 

The  following  hymn  was  then  sung: 

Why  should  our  tears  in  sorrow  flow, 

"When  God  has  re-called  his  own, 
And  bids  them  leave  a  world  of  woe, 

For  an  immortal  crown. 

Is  not  e'en  death  a  gain  to  those 

Whose  life  to  God  were  given? 
Gladly  to  earth  their  eyes  they  close. 

To  open  them  in  heaven. 

Their  toils  are  past,  their  work  is  done,. 

And  they  are  fully  blest; 
They  fought  the  fight,  the  victory  won,. 

And  entered  into  rest. 

Then  let  oar  sorrow  cease  to  flow, 

God  has  re-called  his  own, 
But  let  our  hearts  in  every  woe, 

Still  sav — Thv  will  be  done. 


fkmX'Ukk  mkk. 


DR.  JOHN  ROE 


Fk<»m  thk  "Oregon  (Ogle  Co.)  Col'kieh/' 

**Tlie  announeeinent  tliat  the  funeral  eereinoiiies  of 
Dr.  John  Roe,  Sr.,  would  be  observed  at  Light  lluui^e 
Point,  was  sufficient  to  attract  a  large  concourse  of 
those  who  had  been  neighbors  and  friends  of  the 
*  good  old  doctor '  in  the  days  that  are  j)assed.  It 
was  in  the  far  off  winter  of  1834  that  the  then  young 
doctor,  iK>or  in  purse,  but  rich  in  the  attriljutes  of 
true  manhood,  determined  to  carve  out  for  himself  a 
fortune  in  the  then  almost  untrodden  west.  The 
mere  mention  of  the  struggles  and  privations  o(  the 
pioneers  of  our  country,  has  never  faikn^l  to  fill  me 
with  the  most  lively  emotions  of  veneration  and 
gratitude.  AVe  love  to  look  back  beyond  the  fertile 
fields,  the  beautiful  hedges  of  willow,  maj»le  and 
orange,  the  commodious  barns,  palatial  mansions,  the 
•countless  Hocks,  and   the  "  flowerv  orchanl  trees ''of 


286  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

to-day,  to  the  wild,  bleak  and  barren  prairies  of  forty 

years  ago,  when 

'  His  echoing  ax,  the  settler  swirng, 
Amid  the  sun-like  solitude.' 

"Forty-four  years  have  passed  since  John  Eoe  'staked 
his  claim  '  at  Light  House,  built  his  log  cabin  on  the 
wild  prairie  sod,  wheretofore  the  wild  fox  had  dug  his 
hole  nnscared.  Here  this  herald  of  the  dawning 
civilization  offered  np  his  fervent  prayer  amid  the 
primeval  solitude.  The  most  ntopian  fancy  can 
hardlv  realize  the  chano^e  that  has  been  wrouo^ht 
during  the  past  two  score  years.  Almost  on  the  very 
spot  where  Hoe's  log  cabin  stood  and  crumbled  by  the 
corrosion  of  time,  stands  one  of  the  finest  church 
edifices  in  Ogle  County.  And  we  could  not  help 
thinkino;  as  we  reclined  on  the  cushioned  seat,  between 
those  walls  of  marble  whiteness  and  beneath  that 
frescoed  ceiling,  that  these  elaborate  surroundings 
were  in  strange  and  beautiful  contrast  with  the 
rugged  experience  of  the  early  pioneer,  whose 
memory  we  had  there  assumed  to  honor.  Methinks 
that  the  "  memorial  window '  erected  in  his  honor, 
would  cost  more  than  the  temple  in  which  he  wor- 
shipped. 

" '  Mid  whitewashed  walls  and  swinging  beam." 

"  The  subject  of  this  hurriedly  written  article  was 
born  in  Philadelphia  during  the  first  year  of  the 
present  century.  Was  married  in  1822  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  A.  Lyon,  daughter  of  Col.  Lyon,  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  settled  at  Light  House,  Ogle  county,  in 
1834,  at  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war.  The  fleet- 
footed  antelope  passed  the  cabin  more  frequently  than 


FRONTIKR    I.IFK.  '2s7 

the  slow-paceti  ox  tejun,  and  tlie  voiceless  solitude 
t^ive  no  t«»ken(>f  the  iron  horsi'  that  lias  since  mlkHlitti 
living  tide  into  the  heautiful  Rock  Kiver  X'aUev,  to 
huild  n|)  the  waste  places,  and  make  these  "•^inlensuf 
the  desert"  l»loss(Un  as  tlie  rose.  Methinks  that  tlifhC 
rnii:«i:ed  })ioneers  nnist  have  heard  the  prennaiitorv 
*•  hnni  of  that  advaneini::  ninltitndi'  tliat  siucf  has 
shape  and  .^^liaiiow  overtiowed."  Dr.  Kot*,  tindin*; 
himself  somewhat  hroken  in  fortune  at  the  ck>se  t»f 
the  late  civil  war,  removed  to  Gage  county,  Nebraska, 
where  hes«K»n  ac^piired  a  tine  estate.  Dyini^durini^the 
summer  of  1871,  he  was  buried  in  a  beautiful  littlegrove 
ofcottomvood  trees  which  he  had  himself  plante<l.  The 
affectionate  regard  of  his  widow  and  her  sons,  has 
causeil  his  remains  to  be  brought  back  from  a  far- 
distant  State  to  rest  among  his  earlier  friend>.  amid 
the  scenes  of  his  greatest  usefulness.  He  now  rests 
in  the  ground  he  himself  gave  to  the  ctunmunity  as  a 
free  burial  ground  to  rich  and  poor  alike.  It  wa> 
indeed  a  rich  inheritance  tt)  possess  such  a  father,  and 
it  was  ideasant  to  notice  the  presence  of  four  sons 
who  had  gathered  from  far-distant  States  to  pay  the 
last  tribute  oi  respect  to  his  memory.  VAder  Satter- 
tield  preached  a  very  aj>j>ro]>riate  discourse  from  the 
tlioughts  suggested  in  the  thirteenth  verst*  of  the 
fourteenth  chapter  of  Ilevelations:  "And  I  iicard  a 
v«»ice  from  heaven  saving  unto  nu*,  write,  lUe.-sed  are 
the  deiid  who  die  in  the  Lord,  from  henceforth;  yea, 
saith  the  spirit,  for  they  rest  from  their  lalnirs,  and 
their  works  do  folli»w  them.'^  Von  may  search  in  vain 
for  a  higher  type  of  hunninity  than  is  found  among 
the   large-hejirted   pioneers.      One    by    one    tliey    are 


2SS 


RECOLLECTIOXS   OF 


passing  away  to  be  laid  beneath  tbe  prairie  sod,  as  we 
laid  the  "  good  old  Doctor  "  on  that  beautiful  Sabbath 
morning.  And  the  crumbling  stone  over  his  grave 
will  bear  the  inscription: 


SACRED    TO    THE    MEMORY 

JOHX  EOE. 

DIED    JUXE    21,    1871, 

Aged  TO  years. 


OF 


The  above  was  published  March  7, 1877.  Soon  after 
there  was  erected  a  beautiful  monument  on  the  tinal 
resting  place  of  Dr.  John  Roe,  bv  his  devoted  family. 


FRONTIKR   LIFE.  289 


Birthday  Testimony. 


This  dav,  June  lltli,  1S85,  I  am  eighty  years  old, 
heing  born  June  11th,  1805.  Was  married  tu  Dr. 
John  Kc>e  November  11th,  1821;  we  enjoyed  a  happy 
nuirried  life  for  nearly  fifty  years,  lackiuir  onlv  four 
months  of  that  time.  He  departed  from  this  life 
June  21st,  1871,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
Oil  I  how  we  have  missed  him  these  fourteen  k»ng 
years  as  a  loving,  kind  husband,  father,  counsellor, 
physician  and  bosom  friend,  none  but  uur  Heavenly 
Father  knows,  but  I  live  with  a  blessed  huj)e  of  meet- 
ing him  in  that  better  world  where  the  inhabitants 
never  are  sick  or  in  pain;  where  there  is  no  night,  for 
the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof.  Oh,  how  many  of  our 
dear  old  friends  have  gone  to  tliat  beautiful  world  to 
jiraise  the  Lord  through  endless  day.  I  hoj>e  ere 
long  to  be  with  them,  for  our  blesse<l  Saviour  said, 
"Where  I  am  ye  shall  be  also/'  i)h\  blessed  liojn* 
given  us  through  the  gospel  of  Olirist  our   Redeemer! 

We   raised  eight  children,  and  the  ninth,  the  oldest 


290  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

of  our  family,  departed  from  this  life  at  the  age  of 
ten  months.  He  was  a  lovely  child,  but  he  was  not 
for  this  world,  for  the  Lord  took  him  to  Himself.  I 
haye  often  thought  the  good  Lord  chastened  us,  for 
we  almost  idolized  him.  I  often  think  uf  the 
chastening  of  the  Lord  when  I  see  parents  whose 
hearts  are  almost  broken  with  grief  at  the  loss  of 
their  lirst  born.  Xo  one  but  those  who  have  felt  the 
pang  can  ever  know  what  it  is  to  those  who  have  or 
may  feel  it,  and  I  hope  it  may  be  sanctilied  to  their 
gi-eat  good,  as  it  was  to  ours.  It  led  us  to  lean  on  the 
precious  promises  of  the  Lord  as  we  never  did  before. 
Oh!  how  sweet  were  the  accents  of  our  Redeemer's 
lips  when  he  said,  "  Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.''  By  His  grace  we  were  enabled  to 
resign  all  to  His  will.  Bless  the  Lord  who  doeth  all 
things  well! 

The  Lord  spared  us  to  raise  the  eight  burn  there- 
after. Six  were  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  older 
two  and  the  vouno-est  were  each  successful,  useful 
physicians,  loved  and  honored  by  their  patrons.  One 
son  is  a  tra^'eling  agent  in  Iowa,  and  is  sowing  good 
seed  wherever  he  goes,  and  is  class-leader  and  steward 
of  a  Methodist  church;  another  an  excellent  farmer 
in  good  circumstances  in  Ogle  County,  111. ;  another 
is  a  lawyer  by  profession,  but  is  now  G-eneral  Agent 
of  the  Equitable  Life  Assurance  Company,  of  Xew 
York  City,  for  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  resides 
at  Louisville,  Ky.  He  has  the  care  of  his  dear 
old  mother,  visits  me  often,  and  is  very  kind  and 
affectionate,   and   always   looks  after  my  health  and 


FRONTIER   LIFE.  291 

coiiifen-t.  Few  inutliers  liave  six  such  in»])k*,  kind 
sons. 

The  (-laughters  are  huth  married  and  liave  largu 
families.  They  are  no])le,  kind-hearted  mothers, 
loved  and  honored  by  their  families.  The  eldest  is 
Mrs.  Beanlah  M.  Mayberry,  and  lives  in  Cook 
County  near  Chica<i;o,  her  husband  is  a  memlKJr  of 
the  Board  of  Trade;  the  youngest  is  Mrs.  F.  M. 
Contin,  who  lives  in  Miland  Township,  DeKalb  Co., 
III.;  her  husband  is  a  farmer.  They  have  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  some  of  them  stay  with  me  all 
the  time. 

I  have  in  all  forty-(^»ne  grand-children  and  twenty- 
six  great-grand-children;  some  have  died  in  the 
triumj)h  of  Christian  faith,  some  in  infancy.  I  have 
lived  a  widow  fourteen  years;  was  the  youngest  of 
fifteen  children,  and  for  more  than  thirty  years  I  have 
had  no  father,  mother,  sister  or  brother  living,  but  I 
have  been  surrounded  by  my  very  kind  family,  and 
have  not  felt  the  loss  as  much  as  I  w^ould  under  other 
circumstances,  although  few  persons  ever  loved  father, 
mother,  brothers  and  sisters  more  than  I  did.  But 
they  have  all  gone,  I  hope,  to  that  Ijetter  world 
where  I  expect  to  meet  them  ere  long.  Praise  the 
Lord  for  the  hope  of  heaven  and  immortality,  brought 
to  light  through  the  gospel  of  a  crucified  but  risen 
Saviour.  Truly  I  can  say  with  the  psalmist,  "  Good- 
ness and  mercy  lias  followed  me  all  the  days  of  my 
life." 

It  is  sixty  years  since  I  started  on  the  way  to  Zion. 
Karly  in  life  I  gave  my  hand  to  the  Methodist  church 
and   my   heart    to  the  good   Lord,  and   1  have  never 


292  RECOLLECTIONS    OF 

seen  a  niomeiit  when  I  was  sorry  I  had  cuninienced 
the  heavenly  pilgrimage;  hut  often  I  have  grieved, 
and  do  to-daj,  that  I  have  not  lived  a  more  devoted  life. 
I  can  only  say,  "Forgive,  my  Heavenly  Father, 
forefive  for  the  Eedeemer's  sake."  And  he  said 
wdien  on  earth,  "  Whatsoever  ye  ask  in  my  name 
nothing  doubting  ye  shall  receive."  When  I 
have  erred  or  stumbled,  I  have  repented,  sought 
and  found  forgiveness  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
to  the  comfort  of  my  poor  heart.  Thus  I 
have  traveled  on  the  way  rejoicing,  most  of 
the  time,  with  the  hope  of  immortality  in  eternal 
life. 

I  have  been  comforted  amidst  deep  afflictions  of 
body,  and  hard  struggles  with  our  large  family. 
These  struggles  were  especially  hard  in  this  new 
country  where  we  had  to  go  sixty  miles  for  every- 
thing we  had  to  eat  or  wear  until  we  could  cultivate 
the  rich  land,  then  it  produced  abundance,  and  as  the 
Lord  has  promised  the  diligent  hand  shall  have  its 
reward,  it  was  verified  truly  to  us.  We  grubbed  out 
a  large  spot  in  the  edge  of  the  Light  House  grove, 
and  there,  in  the  edge  of  the  grove,  we  had  built  a 
nice  little  log  cabin  sixteen  feet  square.  Xear  our 
garden  my  little  boys  split  the  trees  we  had  cut  to 
clear  the  garden  spot;  they  were  small  and  the  child- 
ren could  handle  them,  so  they  fenced  the  garden  and 
a  nice  yard.  The  yard  was  beautifully  shaded  with 
some  of  the  nicest  shade  trees,  which  we  had  left 
standing  for  that  purpose,  and  were  so  near  the  house 
that  the  limbs  lay  on  the  clapboard  roof.  Hundreds 
of   sweet  little  birds  made  their  nests  there,  and  at 


FKHNTIKK    I.IKK.  298 

tliL' first  irK'aiii  «>f  <hivli;/lit  tlir  L-^mvc  wouM  he  fcliMini^f 
witli  tlu'ir  lovely  sonp*. 

In  that  liuniMe  \o*r  cal.in  I  >\>vut  mhiu*  of  tljc 
liappiest  (lays  i»f  my  lon^  life;  there  1  <le<lieate(l  anew 
my  whole  lieart,  my  five  little  Ikjvs,  my  new  home,  my 
hushand,  jind  the  little  all  of  earthly  «(«mk1s  we  had  there, 
hailed  the  missionary  with  j(»y,  I  cannot  express  the 
joy  1  felt  when,  as  our  mission  had  lately  l>een 
attached  to  the  Galena  District,  they  sent  Hro.  James 
McCann  to  us  to  preach  as  a  Conference  Missionary 
and  form  a  circuit.  We  were  very  «^lad  to  welcome 
him  to  our  little  log  cabin,  and  entertain  him  the  best 
we  could,  and  he  was  glad  to  find  us,  for  we  had  been 
co-laborers  in  the  Sangamon  circuit  in  former  years. 
( )]i!  wliat  sweet  Christian  communion  we  enjoyed  that 
night  in  singing  and  praying  and  planning  for  the  new 
circuit.  Our  little  son^^sters  awoke  usearlv  next  morn- 
ingto  join  them  in  })raising  the  Lord.  AW*  had  many 
such  treats  like  this  in  our  little  cabin,  and  after  enlarging 
it  by  adding  another  cabin  twenty  feet  long,  it  became 
the  meeting  house.  A  part  of  it  was  used  for  the 
school  house,  and  you  may  say,  the  hospital,  for  we 
often  had  from  six  to  ten  patients  in  it  at  a  time,  to 
seek  tlie  kind  advice  and  treatment  of  a  physician  an<i 
my  care  as  a  nurse.  They  came  as  far  iis  ten,  twenty, 
thirty  and  forty  miles.  Many  came  sorely  afHicted,  but 
went  away  rejoicing. 

Our  cabin  acc<jmmodated  many  of  the  l>est  and 
noblest  humble  men  that  ever  graced  our  conference, 
such  as  Brother  Brunson,  iirother  Sumers,  Brother 
Meade,  Brotlier  Crews,  Brother  Luke  Hitchcock  and 
family.     Ilehasjjreached  many  noble  sermons  in  my  log 


294  RECOLLECTIONS   OF 

cabin.  We  had  a  glorious  revival  commence  at  the 
cabin,  followed  up  for  three  successive  years.  Many 
precious  souls  were  converted  there;  many  shouts  of 
new  born  souls  have  gone  up  from  those  old  logs. 
Some  of  my  dear  children  were  converted  there,  and 
many  who  came  from  afar  off.  Precious  memories, 
how  it  tills  my  heart  with  gratitude  to  meditate  on 
those  blessed  seasons;  but  if  faithful  we  will  have 
eternity  to  tell  the  good  old,  old  story. 

I  believe  in  the  Methodist  doctrines.  I  think  they 
will  stand  the  test  in  eternitv.  I  find  them  £:ood  to 
live  by,  and  I  think  they  will  be  good  to  die  by ;  and 
would  recommend  them  to  all  who  seek  to  know  the 
truth.  I  do  not  feel  like  falling  out  with  anybody  or 
person  who  does  not  think  just  as  I  do.  I  ad^-ise  all 
to  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  or  her  own  mind. 

Seek  the  Lord  with  all  your  heart.  Read  the  Scrip- 
tures of  Di^'ine  Truth,  prayerfully  trusting  to  know 
the  truth  of  His  AYord,  for  he  said,  ''  They  testify  of 
Me."  I  would  recommend  the  Gospel  of  our  blessed 
Saviour  to  every  creature,  and  with  my  latest  breath 
cry,  "Behold I  behold  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  but 
livetli  again  to  intercede  for  you  and  for  me. 

I  am  now  livino^  in  mv  own  little  cottatye,  on  the 
C.  tfe  I.  railroad,  seven  miles  east  of  Oregon,  the 
county  seat  of  Ogle  County,  Illinois.  I  would  be 
happy  to  see  any  of  those  dear  old  friends,  or  hear 
from  them  or  any  of  their  families  at  any  time.  It 
would  do  me  good.  I  am  quite  an  invalid,  and  can't 
go  from  home,  if  it  takes  any  effort.  Perhaps  you 
can  remember,  some  of  my  dear  readers,  that  I  have 
at  two  periods  of  my  life  weighed  three  hundred  and 


FKONTIKR    LIFK.  295 

fifty  jxjundtJ.  Tlit*  weii^lit  «»f  tiesli  has  Imiken  tlie 
li^aincnts  off  tliat  surnuind  and  keep  the  joints  in  tln'ir 
Sockets.  It  is  with  *^reat  j»ain  and  ditlicidty  that  I  can 
move  witliout  the  aid  of  one  and  soiuetinieB  two  staffs  or 
chines.  I  have  liad  several  severe  strokes  of  palsy,  an<l 
suffer  much  from  heart  disease,  so  I  exj)ect  soon  to  ^o  to 
our  Father's  house  where  there  are  many  mansions — 
one  for  you  and  ituc  for  me.  ^fay  we  be  so  unspeak- 
ably hapj)y  as  to  meet  there,  to  <^o  out  no  more  forever. 
Oh  I  what  a  happy  time  it  will  l)e  when  we  our  friends 
in  Heaven  do  see,  there  to  sj)end  an  eternity  in 
pniisinir  the  Lord  our  Iledeemer. 

'Twas  Grace  that  t^mjfbt  my  heart  to  fear, 

And  Grace  my  fears  relieved; 
How  precious  did  that  Grace  appear, 

The  hour  I  first  believed. 

Throu^'h  many  toils  and  snares 

I  have  already  come; 
'Tw,i8  Grace  that  brouj,'lit  me  safe  thus  far, 

And  Grace  \^'ill  lead  me  home. 


"»>• 


ILLiyOlo  jUJ:>j.uiu,L,jJL  aUJiVEZ 


